Switzerland did good business on Sunday at the European Women’s Football Championship in their own country. The team of coach Pia Sundhage won 2-0 against Iceland in Bern, keeping their chances of a place in the quarter-finals alive.
The Swiss women thought they had taken the lead halfway through the first half in the Stade de Suisse. Glodis Perla Viggosdottir passed her own keeper with a header, but the VAR concluded that a foul had preceded it. The goal was disallowed.
Deep in the second half, Switzerland still took the lead at 1-0. Géraldine Reuteler slid the ball in after a smooth attack and a clever assist from Sydney Schertenleib.
That goal made for an exciting final phase. Iceland pushed the accelerator deeper and almost equalized via Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir. Moments later, Switzerland almost doubled the lead. Substitute Leila Wandeler’s beautiful shot hit the crossbar.
In the ninetieth minute, the 2-0 still fell. Substitute Alayah Pilgrim was given all the time to shoot from outside the penalty area and shot the ball into the corner via an Icelandic defender. This 2-0 was the final score.
Norway Certain of Group Win
Due to the 2-0, Switzerland has reaching the quarter-finals in its own hands. That ticket must be secured on Thursday in the final group match against Finland, which also has three points.
Two-time Norway, which earlier in the day won 2-1 against Finland, is already assured of group win.
It is the first time since 2013 that the Norwegian women have reached the quarter-finals. Pointless Iceland has been eliminated.
