Trabzonspor beat Basel in Europa Conference League as fans commemorate Turkish quake victims

Baku, February 17, AZERTAC

Jens Stryger Larsen scored a second half goal to give a 1-0 win Thursday to Turkish football club Trabzonspor in a UEFA Europa Conference League playoff first-leg match against Switzerland's Basel, Anadolu Agency reports.

The Danish defender followed a rebound by Basel goalkeeper Marwin Hitz to break the deadlock in the 65th minute at Trabzon's Senol Gunes Sports Complex.

Following the goal, a group of Trabzonspor players celebrated by holding a Türkiye t-shirt.

Before the match, Turkish fans at the stadium commemorated victims who were killed by last week's earthquakes in Türkiye.

Turkish fans displayed an emotional choreography depicting a search and rescue responder from abroad - next to a German Shepherd named Proteo - who saved an infant from the disaster. Proteo died in search and rescue efforts.

It also showed a massive hand rising from the rubble to hold a Turkish flag – symbolizing Türkiye power and unity.

A banner in the stadium said Türkiye will be together to heal the wounds caused by the quakes.

"Our thoughts are with you," read a Basel banner.

Trabzonspor will visit Basel in the playoff second leg at St. Jakob-Park on Feb. 23.

The winner will advance to the Round of 16.