AS David Luiz's stoppage-time free-kick squirted through the hands of goalkeeper Yann Sommer, Basle's hopes of reaching next month's Europa League final in Amsterdam appeared to go with it.
It was a great shame for the Swiss, who responded admirably to conceding an unfortunately opener to last season's Champions League winners when Branislav Ivanovic's header diverted in off Victor Moses. Youngster Fabian Schar converted an 87th-minute penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have fouled Valentin Stocker but Luiz's late intervention earned the advantage ahead of next week's return at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea, who had lost four of their five prior away games in continental competition before travelling to Switzerland, missed numerous chances, Fernando Torres striking an upright and John Terry being denied by a point-blank save from Sommer before Luiz's shot skipped around the wall and inside the post.
"It's important that we can score two goals here because they are a very good team," said the Brazilian defender, who was perhaps fortunate not to be sent off after a shocking challenge on Philipp Degn late in the game. "The philosophy to play here is amazing so it is difficult to win here. So in the last kick, to score the second goal was amazing for us. But we have the second leg, you need to keep the mind strong because there is one more difficult game for us. A draw 1-1 is a good result but 2-1 is better and me and the team are so happy with this."
Chelsea began the season in contention for seven trophies and this competition is an unexpected eighth, the holders having been ejected from the Champions League in the group stages. It is also their last chance of silverware.
Having won Europe's premier club competition last term, some might consider this prize less worthy. Luiz, however, will not hear of it. "I want to go to the final so we need to win the second leg or draw," he added. "It is not finished, we need to play the second leg. It is so important for us to win one more title and for Chelsea as well, so I just want to win this competition. But we need to win two more games."
The second of those, at the Amsterdam ArenA next month, would be against either Fenerbahce or Benfica. That other tie is perhaps more delicately poised, the Turks eking out a single-goal lead in Istanbul.
Egeman Korkmaz's controversial effort 18 minutes from time – a header from a corner than should not have been awarded – was scant reward for Fenerbahce, who could have taken a more commanding lead to Portugal for the second leg after Brazilian midfielder Cristian Baroni's first-half penalty struck a post, while Moussa Sow and Dirk Kuyt also rattled the frame of the goal and Ola John, who was booked and will miss the return leg, clipped the legs of Gokhan Gonul.
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