Xherdan Shaqiri is again the outstanding man for FC Basel in the third duel against Winterthur. The Bebbi won confidently 2:0 and stay in touch with leaders Servette.
Until the second half, Basel's attacks bounced off the Winterthur defensive wall in the sold-out Schützenwiese. FCW coach Uli Forte had opted for the rustic tactics after the Zurich team's first two matches against Basel had ended in two defeats and eleven goals conceded.
Winterthur's defensive strength in front of their own fans, recently seen against St. Gallen (4:0) and YB (1:0), held up against Basel until the 49th minute, when the ball bounced ideally into the feet of Xherdan Shaqiri in the opponent's penalty area. The first goal conceded after 240 unscathed minutes at home could no longer be prevented.
The final decision in the third and probably last duel of the season between the two teams came in the 70th minute, when Shaqiri followed up his tenth goal with his 13th assist. Bénie Traoré scored from an acute angle and between the legs of goalkeeper Stefanos Kapino to make it 2-0.
This victory is particularly significant for Basel because it ends a very disappointing phase of six games with just one win and puts the offensive words of coach Fabio Celestini into action. With ten rounds to go in the championship race, the Lausanne man was unusually brash in his title ambitions and announced: "The tank is full. We will go on the attack."
Quotes on the game
Man of the Match: Xherdan Shaqiri
"Shaqiri, of course. He was the linchpin, scored the first goal and set up the second. Another remarkable performance."
blue Sport commentator Dani Wyler
Telegram
Winterthur - Basel 0:2 (0:0)
8700 spectators. - SR Fähndrich. - Goals: 49. Shaqiri (Rüegg) 0:1. 70. Traoré (Shaqiri) 0:2.
Winterthur: Kapino; Ulrich (88. Sahitaj), Arnold, Lüthi, Diaby; Cueni; Schneider (59. Lukembila), Zuffi (76. Jankewitz), Frei (58. Di Giusto), Burkart (77. Fofana); Gomis.
Basel: Hitz; Rüegg (61. Mendes), Adjetey, Vouilloz, Schmid; Avdullahu, Metinho (82. Romario Baro); Traoré (90. Leroy), Shaqiri, Otele (82. Kade); Kevin Carlos (82. Ajeti).
Remarks: Cautions: 45 Ulrich, 93 Diaby, 93 Shaqiri.
Video ticker
FC Winterthur
FC Basel
- (49.) 0:1 - Xherdan Shaqiri
- (70.) 0:2 - Bénie Traoré
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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70.
Traoré with the 2:0 for Basel
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51.
Winti misses the equalizer
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49.
Shaqiri gives Basel the lead
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31.
Traoré misses the first good FCB chance
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0.
Will there be the next Shaqiri show against Winterthur?
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0.
Celestini: "If we become champions, I'll dance on Barfüsser-Platz"
If FC Basel become champions, Fabio Celestini will dance on Barfüsserplatz. The FCB coach makes this bet with blue Sport presenter Chris Augsburger.
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90.+5.End of 2nd half
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90.+3.Yellow card FC Basel
Xherdan Shaqiri
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90.+3.Yellow card FC Winterthur
Souleymane Diaby
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90.Substitution in FC Basel
Leo Leroy
Midfielder
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90.Substitution out FC Basel
Bénie Traoré
Midfielder
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88.Substitution in FC Winterthur
Ledjan Sahitaj
Defender
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88.Substitution out FC Winterthur
Dario Ulrich
Defender
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82.Substitution in FC Basel
Anton Kade
Midfielder
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82.Substitution out FC Basel
Philip Otele
Midfielder
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82.Substitution in FC Basel
Albian Ajeti
Striker
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82.Substitution out FC Basel
Kevin Carlos
Striker
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82.Substitution in FC Basel
Romário Baró
Midfielder
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82.Substitution out FC Basel
Metinho
Midfielder
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77.Substitution in FC Winterthur
Boubacar Fofana
Midfielder
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77.Substitution out FC Winterthur
Nishan Burkart
Striker
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76.Substitution in FC Winterthur
Alexandre Jankewitz
Midfielder
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76.Substitution out FC Winterthur
Luca Zuffi
Midfielder
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70.Goal for FC Basel, 0:2 through Bénie Traoré (Xherdan Shaqiri)
Bénie Traoré
Midfielder
Assist: Xherdan Shaqiri
Midfielder
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61.Substitution in FC Basel
Joe Mendes
Defender
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61.Substitution out FC Basel
Kevin Rüegg
Defender
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58.Substitution in FC Winterthur
Josias Lukembila
Striker
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58.Substitution out FC Winterthur
Randy Schneider
Midfielder
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58.Substitution in FC Winterthur
Matteo Di Giusto
Striker
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58.Substitution out FC Winterthur
Fabian Frei
Striker
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49.Goal for FC Basel, 0:1 through Xherdan Shaqiri (Kevin Rüegg)
Xherdan Shaqiri
Midfielder
Assist: Kevin Rüegg
Defender
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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45.Yellow card FC Winterthur
Dario Ulrich
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1.Start of the match
