Soccer:Basle came from two down to stand on the threshold of a momentous victory before an Ashley Young header in the 89th minute rescued a point for Manchester United in a 3-3 draw in the Champions League clash at Old Trafford. The Swiss side scored three second half goals to come within a whisker of one of the great nights in their history.
United boss Sir Alex Ferguson plumped for Welbeck to lead the line and it proved a prophetic choice as the 20 year old English striker netted twice in the space of 80 seconds to put his side initially in the driving seat.
However two goals from Alexander Frei, one of which was a penalty, and another from Fabian Frei saw the Swiss side come from 2-0 down to almost produce a stunning upset before Young's late intervention. United were left to rue some shocking defending and a plethora of missed chances on the night.
With Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez out injured, Ferguson opted to select Welbeck ahead of Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, who were both named as substitutes.
Basle made a confident start and Fabian Frei lifted an effort over the crossbar in the fifth minute after being fed by Marco Streller. United’s first chance came four minutes later, Ashley Young crossing from the left to Antonio Valencia, who nodded the ball back across the face of goal and over the head of Welbeck.
Jacques Zoua then saw his strike for the visitors from distance deflect over, but the Red Devils were finding their rhythm and after Young had volleyed into goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s arms, they made the breakthrough.
From Fabio’s delivery, Giggs took a touch to tee up Welbeck in the area and the England international slotted the ball past Sommer. Within 80 seconds Welbeck had scored another and Giggs was again the provider, sending in a pin-point pass that his young team-mate side-footed home.
At the other end a shot from Giggs came off a Basle shirt to go over, before Welbeck tried for the hat-trick with an attempt from the edge of the area which Sommer got down to save.
The Swiss side had a opportunity to get themselves back into the game soon after when Zoua put in a cross, but it was met by the head of Alexander Frei who sent it too high. Just before the interval Patrice Evra’s cross was missed by Welbeck in front of goal and came to Valencia, who slammed it against Sommer’s legs.
United reached the break with a two goal advantage that could have been trimmed to one on 50 minutes were it not for a brilliant foot block by De Gea from Streller. The Basle striker tried to side-foot the ball home from eight yards but the Spanish keeper managed to get his foot to the ball.
The United goalkeeper did less well from a corner on 58minutes and his weak parry was hammered to the night by Fabian Frei to bring the Swiss side back to 2-1 down. The visitors were level within 70 seconds, this time it was Alexander Frei to netted with a header after losing Rio Ferdinand all too easily.
Things got even worse for the home side on 75 minutes when Valencia, who had moved to left back after Fabio da Silva’s departure through injury, conceded a penalty. Alexander Frei finished assuredly from the spot to put Basle 3-2 ahead.
However the introduction of Nani proved a catalyst for a final surge and from his pin point cross, Ashley Young headed home brilliantly to rescue a point.
Man Utd:De Gea, Rafael Da Silva, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs, Valencia, Welbeck, Young. Subs: Lindegaard, Owen, Berbatov, Park, Nani, Fletcher, Diouf.
Basle:Sommer, Steinhofer, Abraham, Dragovic, Park, Fabian Frei, Cabral, Zoua, Granit Xhaka, Alexander Frei, Streller. Subs: Colomba, Ajeti, Schurpf, Chipperfield, Taulant Xhaka, Kovac, Pak.
Referee:Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)
