Basel 1 Chelsea 2
David Luiz scored with the last kick of a dramatic semi-final first leg to leave Chelsea on course for the Europa League final.
Victor Moses put them ahead and Fabian Schar replied for Basel with a controversial 87th-minute penalty after Cesar Azpilicueta was harshly adjudged to have fouled Valentin Stocker.
But Chelsea hit back, with Luiz side-footing an injury-time free-kick into the bottom corner of the net to give his team a second, potentially crucial, away goal and a great chance of seeing off their Swiss opponents at Stamford Bridge.
Moses, who scored twice against Rubin Kazan in the previous round, headed in from Frank Lampard’s right-wing corner after 13 minutes.
The visitors kept pressing and the otherwise excellent Eden Hazard squandered a chance to extend their lead, firing wide after being teed up by Moses’ pass.
Basel were a threat throughout the second half and went close to equalising when Stocker skipped past Luiz and sent a shot against the post.
The home side were also denied when Schar’s 30-yarder was tipped over by Peter Cech, who was later relieved to see Marcello Diaz’s effort flash narrowly wide.
After Schar calmly converted from the spot, Chelsea responded strongly with Fernando Torres, Oscar and skipper John Terry missing chances to restore their lead.
It was eventually restored by Luiz, whose goal completed a good night’s work for the Blues – although they will be without Ashley Cole for the return leg.
Cole will be suspended for the game after being booked for time-wasting as he was slow to take a throw-in midway through the second half.
Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Luiz, Hazard (Mata 70), Ramires, Lampard (Oscar 79), Moses, Torres.
Subs not used: Turnbull, Mikel, Cahill, Benayoun, Bertrand.
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This post was last modified on 26/04/2013