Canadians in Europe: Millar goal earns point for Basel

Liam Millar, Basel - In his sixth senior season and first in Switzerland, Toronto's Liam Millar extended his career record goals output and earned Basel a point on the road against St. Gallen. Handed his 18th start of the season, Millar and Basel have likely come to peace with the fact that a title push is out of reach and will now spend the remainder of their campaign attempting to ensure they maintain their European place.

Sunday's match didn't start well for the visitors. In the 20th, Lukas Gortler caught the Basel backline napping and played a ball over the top for Kwadwo Duah, who was able to get in behind them. The former Switzerland U-20 made no mistake with a hard shot past the oncoming Heinz Lindner for a 1-0 lead.

Basel leveled matters shortly thereafter thanks to a little bit of good fortune. Valentin Stocker played Sebastiano Esposito in on the right and his low drive went right through the legs of Lawrence Ati-Zigi and into the net in the 29th, but a replay showed that the ball was generously deflected by St. Gallen defender Leonidas Stergiou and an own-goal was awarded.

The hosts would retake the lead in the 65th thanks to some sleepy defending from Basel. It was Gortler who once again played provider with a deep ball into the left of the area for Jeremy Guillemenot. Guillemenot easily shook off Nasser Djiga and beat Lindner in the 65th to make it 2-1.

But Basel would pull even again only two minutes later through Millar. Collecting a pass from Wouter Burger down the left side, Millar entered the area, cut inside his marker and scored with a fine right-footed effort past the diving Ati-Zigi. It was Millar's seventh league goal of the season.