Substitute Jean-Christophe Bahebeck claimed a 77th-minute winner as St Etienne snatched a 3-2 victory in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie against Basle.

The French side had looked on course for a comfortable win after captain Moustapha Sall opened the scoring on nine minutes at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard and Kevin Monnet-Paquet added a second with 39 minutes gone.

But Walter Samuel gave Basle hope by pulling one back on the stroke of half-time and Marc Janko levelled from the spot just before the hour after a foul by Florentin Pogba.

Luca Zuffi threatened again for Basle but Bahebeck had the final say, just five minutes after coming on.