Soccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 Basel’s Albian Ajeti and Taulant Xhaka celebrate after Ajeti scored but the goal was subsequently disallowed REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Goals either side of halftime earned Basel a 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow on Wednesday to keep the Swiss side in second place in Champions League Group A.
Midfielder Taulant Xhaka sped past CSKA's sluggish backline and unleashed a powerful low drive that beat veteran goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the right corner to put Basel up in the 29th minute.
Basel thought they had scored another early in the second half when Albian Ajeti's drive beat Akinfeev, but referee Bjorn Kuipers ruled offside. After a string of missed chances, Dimitri Oberlin added another for Basel in the 90th minute.
Soccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 Basel players salute their fans after the match REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
The disallowed goal re-energised CSKA but they were unable to use the momentum to get on the scoresheet.
CSKA's best chance came in the 76th minute when a powerful header by Mario Fernandes floated just over the bar.
Both sides were cautious early in the match, failing to set the pace and create space to generate scoring opportunities.
Soccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 Basel’s Dimitri Oberlin scores their second goal REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
Basel set-pieces that could have unsettled CSKA were off target or floated into the hands of Akinfeev. But the Swiss side succeeded in shutting down CSKA's offence and conceding no shots on target.
Basel climbed to second place in the group on six points, three behind leaders Manchester United. CSKA are third on three.
Soccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 Basel’s Dimitri Oberlin scores their second goal REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 CSKA Moscow’s Viktor Vasin in action with Basel’s Dimitri Oberlin REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
(Reporting by Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber; Editing by Ed Osmond)
Soccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 Basel players salute their fans after the match REUTERS/Maxim ShemetovSoccer Football - Champions League - CSKA Moscow vs FC Basel - VEB Arena, Moscow, Russia - October 18, 2017 Basel’s Mohamed Elyounoussi in action with CSKA Moscow’s Aleksandr Golovin REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
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