Salzburg 2-2 FC Basel

The NWO opened with a snap, crackle and pop yesterday evening as the first round of fixtures kicked off. Some managers will be impressed with their starts others will be mildly confident. The world tuned in with hope that the NWO would provide fans from across the globe with excitement, enjoyment and over all pure footballing madness. It did not disappoint.

FC Basel will play their part this season when it comes to all of the above mentioned, with a expected relegation battle on their hands fans across the NWO but more so Division 3 will have there eyes firmly set on the battles at the top and bottom of the table to come.

The stage was set at the Wals-Siezenheim stadium in the city of Salzburh, Austria no less. A capacity of 31,100 fans. The match started with little goal mouth action the game springing into life in the 17th minute, BONGONDA one of the many players on both sides making there debuts played in Kelechi IHEANACHO with a perfectly weighted through ball. IHEANACHO the man who many have pinned Basel's survival hopes to this season perhaps felling the pressure a fantastic first touch taking him past the Salzburg back line only to see his effort sliced over the cross bar a golden opportunity missed.

Step up Italian Borini also making his debut, good link up play between Basel front men Iheanacho and Borini saw the Italian one on one with the Salzburg keeper. A fine effort met with a fine save from the man between the sticks. Another missed opportunity that would prove costly only moments later.

The first goal of the night did follow however with the home side taking the lead through BLAS The ball rocketed over MOYA dipping just in time to hit back of the net. 1-0 Salzburg. The first half passed Basel by with little chances being created at either end of the pitch, approaching half time Clifford would have to earn his money during the team talk.

The second half started brightly with Basel winning a free kick in a dangerous area, ZUFFI one of Basel's surviving players before Clifford entered the front doors choose a different approach to goal, a delightful cross clipped into the box resulted in Iheanacho catching the ball on the bounce with the keeper routed all that was needed to be done was to get the shot of on target.. The ball fizzed out wide.

A goal was coming you could sense and so did the home crowd who were beginning to twitch, step up STEFFEN another original Basel player making the cut latching onto a hoofed clearance by non other then loan man VERMAELEN. Taking the ball in his stride Steffen drilled a sweetly hit shot past the finger tips of the opposition goalkeeper to tie the game 1-1 Basel now looking like a team capable of taking all 3 points.

No longer then 5 minutes had passed and with Basel on the ascendancy the tables were all too cruelly turned. DABBUR the man for the hosts firing in a low driven strike that had MOYA diving on thin air the home side back in front 2-1 with Clifford looking like a man obsessed with doing laps of the dugout area.

A nail biting end was promised as Basel again took control of the game, they were made to wait for their chance but took it with open arms when one was given in the 71st minute of play. Club Captain and big money man ELNENY returning to the club from Arsenal provided that long awaited goal. ZUFFI Basel's most creative player by far that night slipping in a nicely timed pass. Elneny only needed to beat the keeper and with the white of the keepers eyes staring back at him he did just that. A nicely curled shot kept out of the keepers reach hitting the net, que celebrations from the away dugout.

The game had reached its peak, with the NWO proving no game will be a easy on this season both teams had taken the foot of the gas. Seemingly happy with the point. No real chances of note were conjured up in the final 19 minutes, the ref finally called time on the seasons curtain raiser with the game nicely tied 2-2.

After the match Clifford said the following..

"I was pleased with the boy's performance levels today, for the number of players to come in having never played with each other before today playing the way they did filled me with great hope. Our fitness levels were good, though the game lost its fizzle later on as expected in these first opening games.

One can only hope that with game time and more minutes under the belts we'll see sharper football and hopefully well be able to take a few more chances. I shall not criticise the forward lads they need time and they certainly put the work in off the ball which pleased me. Now I'm looking forward to the next game in what I expect to be a good reception and crowd back home in Basel"

The final stats proved good reading for Basel who looked the better side throughout, a concern for Clifford will surly be this forward men being able to take their chances. FC Basel then begin life in Division 3 sitting in 9th place thanks to the high scoring draw. Oh how manager Ben Clifford would want the season to end today if a top 10 finish was guaranteed.