Rueters
Thursday, November 9, 2000; 4:11 PM

ROTTERDAM, Nov 9 – Feyenoord beat Basle 1-0 on Thursday with a third minute goal by Bonaventure Kalou that saw the Dutch side through to the third round of the UEFA Cup 3-1 on aggregate.

Torrential rain turned the pitch, usually one of the best in the Netherlands, into a swamp but Russian referee Yuri Baskakov ruled it was playable.

The conditions played a big part in the goal when a backpass from 30 metres out by the Swiss team's defender Ivan Knez was halted by a puddle.

Kalou was first to the ball and lobbed goalkeeper Miroslav Koenig. Neither team created many further chances.