Basinas thwarts Barcelona

Panathinaikos 1 Barcelona

Angelos Basinas scored a late penalty to give Panathinaikos a slender advantage over Barcelona in a tense European Cup quarter-final first leg in Athens last night.

Basinas held his nerve to send the goalkeeper Roberto Bonano the wrong way from the spot amid furious Barca protests after the defender Abelardo was adjudged to have fouled the winger Joonas Kolkka as he bore down on goal 11 minutes from time.

Not even the introduction of a half-fit Brazilian playmaker Rivaldo off the bench in the second half could prevent a defeat for the Catalans which gives the Greeks a great chance to make the semi-finals.

Despite Rivaldo's absence, Javier Saviola was also named as a substitute, with the young Brazilian Thiago Motta preferred in the hole behind Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert in attack. The Greek side were without their key playmaker, Giorgios Karagounis, through suspension.

Overmars provided Barcelona's most potent attacking threat in a goalless first half. The Dutch international made a couple of trademark bursts down the left flank and his run and pass gave Kluivert a great chance in the 13th minute. After receiving Overmars' pass, Kluivert turned sharply past Giannis Goumas but flashed a low left-footed shot wide.

The Croatian striker Goran Vlaovic had the best chance of the opening half for the Greeks but somehow headed Kolkka's precise cross over the bar with only Bonano to beat.

Rivaldo entered proceedings in the 72nd minute and almost made an immediate impact, whipping in a left-footed curler from the edge of the area which Antonis Nikopolidis pushed around a post. But he could do nothing to prevent his team going a goal down, as the Norwegian referee Terje Hauge changed the game with his penalty decision.

Basinas stepped up confidently and slotted the ball into the right-hand corner to spark jubilant celebrations among the home fans.

Panathinaikos: Nikopolidis, Henriksen, Goumas, Fissas, Kyrgiakos, Basinas, Saric, Kolkka, Konstantinou (Vokolos, 90), Liberopoulos (Boateng, 60), Vlaovic (Olisadebe, 74). Substitutes not used: Kotsolis (gk), Galetto, Pitsos, Jarni.

Barcelona: Bonano, Puyol, Coco (Reiziger, 68), De Boer, Abelardo, Cocu (Xavi, 54), Rochemback (Rivaldo, 72), Gabri, Motta, Overmars, Kluivert. Substitutes not used: Reina (gk), Saviola, Christanval, Geovanni.

Referee: T Hauge (Norway).