Super League
The Shaq Show: The Magic Foot simply succeeds in everything in FC Basel‘s 6-1 win against Winterthur
With five goals, Xherdan Shaqiri leads FC Basel to a 6-1 away win at FC Winterthur. The returnee is getting better and better – and is brimming with creativity.
The man to celebrate: Xherdan Shaqiri scores three goals – and also scores himself.
If a final confirmation that this performance was exceptional was needed, the 70th minute could have been used to underline this. Because when Xherdan Shaqiri, FC Basel player, left the field in Winterthur on Saturday evening, he received thunderous applause. Not only from the Basel residents who traveled with us, but also from the home fans.
They pay tribute to a performance that was simply sensational. He contributed five goals, three of which were assists, one hit and one corner, which he converted directly, but the league rated it as an own goal by the Winterthur keeper. To be involved in five out of six goals – you have to do that first. And how! Shaqiri’s goal to make it 0-3 in the 33rd minute was as fantastic as many of his goals are. The assist to make it 0:2 – it made you click your tongue.
The script had actually intended a different protagonist for this role. What hasn’t been said about Fabian Frei’s reunion with “his” FCB. But Frei, Basel’s record player with 543 games, has little air time this evening. Because his good friend Xherdan Shaqiri has a lot of passion for football that evening. On magic. For what he was brought back for.
Actions that arouse Shaqiri’s desire
He initiates Basel’s first chance with a deep pass to Leo Leroy; Bénie Traoré’s shot is cleared for a corner. This results in the first blow in the neck for the hosts. Shaqiri’s cornerball is perfectly turned to Kevin Carlos, who shakes off opponent Tobias Schättin when he heads the ball, as a defender shouldn’t. 1-0 from Basel’s point of view. And Shaqiri’s desire seems to have been aroused.
No matter what ball he plays, you can sense an idea behind it. Shaqiri is the heart of the Basel game, his teammates look for him and together they come up with creative moves. Whether from play or after standing balls, Shaqiri’s actions exude danger. So in the 22nd minute, he used Carlos with a ball that he lifted precisely over the defense. Or in the 23rd minute when he curled a corner onto the crossbar. And even more so when he found Traoré with another lob in the 22nd minute and converted it via a direct pass. 2-0 for FCB. It’s a fantastically beautiful hit that thrives on perfect timing and technique.
Twelve years since the last goal for FCB
The fact that Fabian Frei’s long-range shot fluttered over the goal shortly before Basel’s second goal is a side note. After just 25 minutes it is clear: This game is becoming the Shaq Show.
The noble technician simply succeeds in everything he tries. This was also the case when he beautifully shot into the left corner from the edge of the penalty area in the 33rd minute in typical Shaqiri style to make it 3-0. It is his first goal since returning to FCB, the first since May 2012. In return there is a kiss on the FCB logo and the typical Shaqiri saying with a wink: “I would have preferred to score my first goal in a jogging suit!”
The Shaq show continues after halftime. First comes assist number three, again unchallenged by Romario Baro. And finally this corner, which he circles around the near post into the goal, and which one could rightly attribute to him as a goal.
When Shaqiri left the field after 70 minutes with a great performance, two more goals were scored. One for FCB from substitute Marin Soticek and a consolation goal for Winterthur, which FCB is terribly annoyed about.
But the joy of this evening will outweigh the cosmetic flaws. Because FCB shone collectively and not just because of Shaqiri. Because the Basel team still had a chance of scoring more goals. Because FCB were able to achieve their third win in a row, keeping them close to the top of the table and being able to go into the next game with confidence, although the opponents are of a different caliber.
On Wednesday YB is waiting for FCB in Wankdorf. It will be exciting to see how much room for development the Bernese will give Xherdan Shaqiri, who is gaining momentum.
