Basel win 2-0 at CSKA Moscow

TURIN: Juventus hit back to snatch a late 2-1 win at home to Sporting after gifting the Portuguese side an early lead with a bizarre own goal by Alex Sandro in their Champions League match yesterday. Four days after their two-year unbeaten home run was ended by Lazio, Juve were in more trouble when goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon saved at foot of Gelson Martins but the ball hit Alex Sandro and went straight into the net.

Miralem Pjanic levelled with a superb free kick in the 29th minute and, just as Sporting seemed set to frustrate the hosts, Mario Mandzukic scored the winner with a superb diving header in the 84th minute.

Juventus have six points from three games in Group D, three behind leaders Barcelona, while Sporting are on three. Already fending off talk of a crisis after taking one point from their last two league games, Juventus got the worse possible start with a double mistake by Alex Sandro in the 12th minute.

The Brazilian first failed to cut out Bruno Fernandes’ pass through the Juve defence, allowing Martins a clear run on goal. Buffon managed to block the ball at Martins’ feet, only for it to hit Alex Sandro and ricochet into the net.

At that point, it looked as if Sporting might claim their first win in Italy at their 14th attempt but it turned out to be their only shot on target all evening. Juve quickly regained control and, after several near misses, levelled in the 29th minute when Pjanic curled an exquisite free kick over the wall, leaving Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio rooted to the spot.

Sporting defended resolutely in the second half while at the other end, Bas Dost kept the Italians’ defence occupied but without seriously troubling Buffon. A draw seemed on the cards until Douglas Costa, who had just come on, whipped over a cross from the left and Mandzukic beat his marker to the ball to score with a diving header at the far post. — Reuters MOSCOW: Goals either side of halftime earned Basel a 2-0 win at CSKA Moscow yesterday 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.

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. Basel setpieces 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. —Reuters

Juve recover from bizarre own goal to snatch late win