A late flurry of goals from Switzerland ensured their European Championship dream stayed alive as they beat Iceland 2-0.
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Switzerland win 2-0 against IcelandHosts need draw against Finland to progressIceland crash out and Norway top the groupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
Switzerland beat Iceland 2-0 in their second group game to keep their qualification hopes alive in Euro 2025.
The players kicked off to a lively atmosphere in Bern as Sveindis Jonsdottir launched the game into action with one of her trademark long throws. Cleared only as far as Ingibjorg Sigurdardottir, the defender rattled the crossbar and the Swiss crowd’s nerves with a terrific volley from the edge of the area as Iceland threatened to upset the hosts.
Switzerland responded with chances of their own and Svenja Folmli’s powered header found its way into the back of the net via a deflection. However, a check by VAR found that as the corner was floated in, the forward had blocked off and fouled Glodís Viggosdottir and the goal was disallowed. The Swiss crowd thought they had again taken the lead when Iman Beney hit a rocket from 40 yards, but despite appearing to have flown into the top corner, the effort had only found the side-netting.
Iceland began the second-half as they started the first – by hitting the crossbar. This time, Agla Albertsdottir’s free-kick from range skimmed the top of the upright and bounced over. Undeterred by the Icelandic threat, Switzerland continued to push for the winner. Winning the ball back in midfield, captain Lia Walti robbed the ball, held off a challenge and found Sydney Schertenleib who slipped in Geraldine Reuteler to fire low into the bottom left-corner after 76 minutes. The Swiss crowd, just shy of 30,000, erupted and their celebrations would not be halted this time.
With time ticking away and the crowd growing more and more confident of victory, Alayah Pilgrim gave them yet more reason to celebrate – dispatching from distance in injury time to ensure the host’s took qualification to the knockout stages into their own hands.
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Defeat for Iceland means they are out of the European Championships. The result also means that Iceland remain without a win in this tournament since 2013 and face a tough test against already qualified Norway to put an end to that rut.
Getty Images SportTHE MVP
It is tough to look past the match winner Geraldine Reuteler, but it takes a special performance to stand-out from right backand Iman Beney was a constant threat for the hosts. Her first-half effort would have been the goal of the tournament had it not flown past the wrong side of the post. The 18-year-old has just signed for Manchester City and her new fans will no doubt be excited to see their new star shining on the biggest stage.
Getty Images SportTHE BIG LOSER
Iceland remain goalless and pointless in these European Championships, crashing out with a game still to play in the group stage. While it remains grim reading for Icelandic fans, they have shown heart in their two defeats against Finland and Switzerland. They may feel they created more than enough chances on Sunday to take a point from Switzerland, but it just was not meant to be.
