The Swiss women's national team drew 1-1 with Australia in a test match in Zurich and set a new attendance record.
The announcer at the Letzigrund reported 14,370 spectators. Never before has a women's football match in Switzerland been played in front of so many spectators. A good eight months before the opening match of the European Championship in Basel, the Swiss fans were treated to a good performance by the national team.
Géraldine Reuteler rewarded the committed performance with the goal to make it 1:1 in the 58th minute. The Eintracht Frankfurt player finished off an attack that the Swiss had led with great vigor and presence in the opposing penalty area. It was a deserved reaction to Australia's opening goal shortly before the break from a penalty by Caitlin Ford, Lia Wälti's team-mate at Arsenal.
Even though Australia, who were favorites, improved their play after the break, Switzerland could even have won the game. The goal they conceded was not a compelling one and came after one of very few lapses in the Swiss defense: Ford gave Luana Bühler the slip and goalkeeper Elvira Herzog stopped the striker with a foul (43'). At the other end, Smilla Vallotto had lost a direct duel with the Australian keeper two minutes earlier. And shortly before the end, substitute Larina Baumann only hit the edge of the goal.
Switzerland, with the fit-again Wälti and various young players such as Vallotto, Iman Beney, Naomi Luyet and Sydney Schertenleib, withstood the growing pressure from the Australians towards the end. The picture that Switzerland presented is a promising one for the next tests.
The hosts continue their European Championship campaign on Tuesday in Geneva against France. They will then play tests against Germany (in Zurich) and England (in Sheffield) before the end of the year. It is quite possible that the current spectator record will not last long.
Telegram:
Switzerland - Australia 1:1 (0:1)
Zurich. - 14'370 spectators. - SR Shukrula (NED). - Goals: 43rd Ford (penalty) 0:1. 58th Reuteler 1:1.
Switzerland: Herzog; Calligaris, Bühler, Maritz; Luyet (46. Beney), Reuteler, Wälti, Vallotto (64. Mauron), Riesen (77. Baumann); Crnogorcevic (64. Schertenleib), Bachmann (89. Lehmann).
Remarks: Cautions: 42nd Herzog.
SDA
