Luiz gives Blues edge
Last season’s Champions League winners went in front when Branislav Ivanovic won a header which went in off Victor Moses, who claimed his third goal in as many Europa League games.
The visitors should have scored again prior to Fernando Torres striking the post before Cesar Azpilicueta was adjudged to have fouled Valentin Stocker and Fabian Schar converted an 87th-minute penalty.
However, Chelsea responded and Luiz’s late intervention earned the advantage ahead of next week’s return at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea missed numerous chances and Luiz’s shot skipped around the wall and inside the post after John Terry had been denied by goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s point-blank save earlier in stoppage time.
Basle eliminated Zenit St Petersburg and Tottenham and Rafael Benitez was taking few chances in Switzerland. Left-back Ashley Cole returned from a hamstring injury and Terry’s recall in defence saw Luiz move into midfield alongside Frank Lampard.
Basle seemed determined to enjoy their maiden European semi-final and the visitors were met with a raucous reception and energetic opponents.
Chelsea had to be patient as Basle started well before Azpilicueta raced down the right and crossed to the near post, where Lampard’s prod towards goal was turned away for a corner by Sommer.
Lampard’s set-piece was met by Ivanovic, whose header deflected off Moses and bounced inside the far post.
The Nigeria forward knew little about the goal, yet cartwheeled away in delight.
Basle were lively, with 6ft 6in captain Marco Streller the focal point up front. Streller appeared keen to celebrate his contract extension in style, but Ivanovic and Terry, supported by a retreating Luiz, dealt with the physical threat as Stocker buzzed around his strike partner.
Torres twice had half-chances before Lampard found Ramires and the Brazilian’s dipping shot from the right was saved well by Sommer.
Chelsea were almost made to pay for their profligacy three minutes after the restart when Streller and Stocker combined and the latter hit the base of the post with Cech beaten.
Much of the second half was disjointed and punctuated by mistakes as Chelsea were forced to repel repeated Basle attacks.
Hazard made way for Juan Mata and Lampard was replaced by Oscar as Chelsea’s search for a second continued to prove elusive.
Basle substitute Marcelo Diaz curled an effort narrowly wide and Cech collected at the feet of Mohamed Salah after the winger had been played in by Dragovic.
But Basle equalised when Azpilicueta was ruled to have hauled down Stocker in the area and Schar sent the ball down the middle of Cech’s goal.
Oscar shot narrowly wide and Terry’s header was somehow stopped by Sommer before Luiz took his chance from 25 yards to belatedly give Chelsea the advantage in the tie.
BASLE: Sommer, Degen, Schar, Dragovic, Park, Fabian Frei, Salah (David Degen 78), El-Nenny (Zoua 65), Die (Diaz 61), Stocker, Streller.
CHELSEA: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Luiz, Hazard (Mata 71), Ramires, Lampard (Oscar 79), Moses, Torres.
Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic).
A solitary goal by Egeman Korkmaz guided Fenerbahce to a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Benfica in Istanbul last night.
Korkmaz’s goal 18 minutes from time was scant reward for the Turkish side, who could have taken a more commanding lead to Portugal after Cristian Baroni hit a first-half penalty against the post, while Moussa Sow and Dirk Kuyt also hit the woodwork.
FENERBAHCE: Demirel, Gonul, Yobo, Korkmaz, Ziegler, Meireles (Ucan 64), Topal, Kuyt, Baroni (Sahin 86), Sow (Krasic 87), Webo.
BENFICA: Artur Moraes, Maxi Pereira, Jardel, Garay, Melgarejo, Gomes (Carlos Martins 81), Aimar (Gaitan 46), Matic, John (Rodrigo 64), Cardozo, Salvio.
Referee: Milorad Mazic (Ser).
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