World Cup Qualification: Switzerland Secures 2-0 Win Over Sweden
Switzerland remains perfect in World Cup qualifying with win over Sweden, stays top of Group B. Sweden's World Cup qualifying campaign suffers setback as Switzerland secures 2-0 win in Solna.
The Swedish team managed to alleviate some pressure with their first notable attack when...
Switzerland secured a crucial win in their pursuit of a sixth consecutive World Cup qualification, defeating Sweden 2-0 away in Solna. This victory kept them perfect in Group B with three wins from three matches.
The Swiss team dominated the match from the start, with Breel Embolo and Granit Xhaka putting pressure on Sweden's goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. Johansson was unable to save a header from Embolo in the first three minutes, which hit the post. Embolo continued to cause problems for Sweden, narrowly missing with a cross from Dan Ndoye 10 minutes later.
The turning point came when Xhaka scored a penalty in the 65th minute, giving Switzerland a 1-0 lead. The win was sealed in stoppage time with Johan Manzambi's strike, which deflected past Johansson to make it 2-0. This result extends Switzerland's unbeaten run and keeps them at the top of Group B.
Breel Embolo kept tormenting Sweden's defense, and 10 minutes later, he leaped high to connect with a Dan Ndoye cross, but his effort sailed narrowly wide.
The Swedish team managed to alleviate some pressure with their first notable attack when Ken Sema found Lucas Bergvall, whose pass reached Viktor Gyokeres. Although Gyokeres attempted a header, he failed to make contact, and the ball landed just wide of the post.
Sweden finally gained momentum midway through the half with a beautifully executed attack down the right flank. Lucas Bergvall's low cross found Alexander Isak, but his shot hit the base of the upright.
In a late first-half chance, the roles were reversed as Isak broke free down the left and set up Bergvall. However, the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder completely mishit the ball with the goal open, squandering a promising opportunity.
The deadlock remained intact soon after halftime, with Yasin Ayari flashing a shot wide for Sweden following a swift counter-attack. Dan Ndoye then forced Sweden's goalkeeper Viktor Johansson to make another impressive save.
As the hour mark approached, Johansson continued to deny Switzerland, keeping out a Ruben Vargas header and then palming away the follow-up attempt, showcasing his shot-stopping skills.
Switzerland finally broke through in the 65th minute when Alexander Bernhardsson's touch brought Djibril Sow down in the box, and referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot. Granit Xhaka scored the resulting penalty, blasting the ball down the middle.
Sweden's struggles continued after falling behind, with the team failing to create many chances. It wasn't until the 85th minute that they had another notable opportunity, but Lucas Bergvall spurned a chance after collecting a knockdown from Viktor Gyokeres.
Switzerland secured a 2-0 victory over Sweden, wrapping up their third clean sheet in the group and marking their first head-to-head win since 1994. The winning goal came in added time when Johan Manzambi's strike deflected past Sweden's goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.
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