Europa Conference League: Terem Moffi spectacular brace not enough to earn Nice win at Basel 

By Wale Mustapha

Nigerian striker, Terem Moffi gave another man-of-the-match performance, scoring twice for OGC Nice in their 2-2 against FC Basel in the UEFA Europa Conference League quarterfinal first leg clash in Zurich on Thursday night.

Moffi’s goals of the night, one of which was a contender for the league’s best goal, has taken his total goals of the season for club and country to 20.

The match played at the Switzerland capital began to a frenetic start as both sides showed how desperate they were to get things done in the first leg.

However, it was hosts who had their nose in front with the first goal from the spot in 26th minutes converted by Zeki Amdouni.

Nice would soon turned the game on its head before half time with two quick goals within three minutes from Nigerian striker.

First of Moffi was to capitalized on a rebounded effort which Basel’s keeper parried to his path and wasted no time to latched home from close. The second for the young striker and Nice was an incredible acrobatic finish that stunned everyone at the St. Jacob Park Stadium.

Basel grew more into the game in the second half and went close to find the equalizer early on but Kasper Schmeichel was at his best on those occasions to keep the scoreline in Nice’s favor.

The experienced Danish keeper could not find answer to Basel’s equalizer in 71st minutes when Amdouni again was on hand to head home a decisive pass from Lang.

Both sides went close to find the winning goal in the closing stages but was forced to settle for draw leaving the second leg at the Alianz Rivera Stadium in France all to play for.