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

By Can Erozden

ANKARA (AA) - 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.

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.

More than 36,000 people have been killed in the two strong earthquakes that jolted southern Türkiye on Feb. 6, according to the country's disaster agency.

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.