Middlesbrough face an uphill battle to keep their Uefa Cup hopes alive after a 2-0 defeat to Basel in the first leg of their quarter final in Switzerland on Thursday night.
Two goals in two devastating minutes just before half time gave Basel a crucial lead to take into the second leg at The Riverside next week.
To complete a miserable night for Boro, Emanuel Pogagtetz was forced off with a broken nose and they need to produce a big performance in the second leg if they are to keep their cup double dreams alive.
Middlesbrough began brightly and they created the first noteworthy chance of the game on nine minutes when Gaizka Mendieta teed up Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for a shot on the edge of the box which he dragged wide.
The home side had their first sight of goal on 13 minutes when David Degen pulled the ball back for Adelino Eduardo Da Silva, who fired a shot straight at Mark Schwarzer.
Hasselbaink was inches away from breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes with a ferocious free kick from the edge of the box, which fizzed just wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Basel worked a neat free kick routine for Boris Smiljanic to hit a left-footed shot straight at Schwarzer.
Mile Sterjovski wasted a good opening on 28 minutes when the ball fell invitingly to him inside the box, but his weak volley was comfortably collected by Schwarzer.
Degen was booked for diving just before the half hour mark after going down in the box, as Pogatetz came across to tackle him.
Boro came close to scoring on 33 minutes when Pascal Zuberbuhler somewhat fortuitously tipped Mendieta's swerving shot over the crossbar.
The visitors continued to look dangerous every time they went forward and five minutes before the break, Stewart Downing sent over a great cross which Hasselbaink at full stretch could just not direct on target.
Basel stunned Middlesbrough on 43 minutes when Matias Delgado tried his luck from long range and his shot seemed to catch Schwarzer out, as it took a wicked bounce off the surface before flying over the Australian's dive.
Things got worse for Boro right on the stroke of half time when Eduardo slipped Degen in on goal and the winger coolly slotted the ball past a wrong-footed Schwarzer.
Two goals in two devastating minutes just before half time gave Basel a crucial lead to take into the second leg at The Riverside next week.
To complete a miserable night for Boro, Emanuel Pogagtetz was forced off with a broken nose and they need to produce a big performance in the second leg if they are to keep their cup double dreams alive.
Middlesbrough began brightly and they created the first noteworthy chance of the game on nine minutes when Gaizka Mendieta teed up Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for a shot on the edge of the box which he dragged wide.
The home side had their first sight of goal on 13 minutes when David Degen pulled the ball back for Adelino Eduardo Da Silva, who fired a shot straight at Mark Schwarzer.
Hasselbaink was inches away from breaking the deadlock on 22 minutes with a ferocious free kick from the edge of the box, which fizzed just wide of the far post.
Two minutes later, Basel worked a neat free kick routine for Boris Smiljanic to hit a left-footed shot straight at Schwarzer.
Mile Sterjovski wasted a good opening on 28 minutes when the ball fell invitingly to him inside the box, but his weak volley was comfortably collected by Schwarzer.
Degen was booked for diving just before the half hour mark after going down in the box, as Pogatetz came across to tackle him.
Boro came close to scoring on 33 minutes when Pascal Zuberbuhler somewhat fortuitously tipped Mendieta's swerving shot over the crossbar.
The visitors continued to look dangerous every time they went forward and five minutes before the break, Stewart Downing sent over a great cross which Hasselbaink at full stretch could just not direct on target.
Basel stunned Middlesbrough on 43 minutes when Matias Delgado tried his luck from long range and his shot seemed to catch Schwarzer out, as it took a wicked bounce off the surface before flying over the Australian's dive.
Things got worse for Boro right on the stroke of half time when Eduardo slipped Degen in on goal and the winger coolly slotted the ball past a wrong-footed Schwarzer.
