Despite missing a number of chances, the Swiss women conclude the European Championship qualifiers with a well-deserved 3:0 victory. Promotion to League A of the Nations League had already been achieved before the match.
Meriame Terchoun scored on the Lausanne Pontaise in front of 2,222 spectators in the 25th minute with a durable 17-meter strike, Viola Calligaris and Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic increased the score in the final quarter of an hour, so that the result ultimately reflected the clear conditions on the pitch. It was Terchoun's first international goal in more than eight years.
Thanks to their 2-0 win in Turkey last Friday, the Swiss, who will host the 2025 European Championship next year, were already confirmed as group winners and promoted to League A of the Nations League before the match. Perhaps that is why they lacked the final determination for a long time. Géraldine Reuteler, who returned to the team after suspension, missed twice from the best position and Crnogorcevic twice hit the edge of the goal.
Coach Pia Sundhage took the opportunity to make five changes to the starting eleven and four substitutions at half-time. Among others, Livia Peng replaced Elvira Herzog in goal.
The victory against Azerbaijan, which was not very glamorous but was achieved with aplomb, was the last competitive match of the year for the Swiss. They will continue in October with the next group match and test matches against as yet unknown opponents.
Telegram
Switzerland - Azerbaijan 3:0 (1:0)
Lausanne. - 2222 spectators. - SR Bockova (SVK). - Goals: 25. Terchoun 1:0. 77. Calligaris 2:0. 88. Crnogorcevic 3:0.
Switzerland: Peng; Maritz, Calligaris, Bühler, Stierli (46. Riesen); Terchoun (46. Vallotto), Bachmann (46. Lehmann), Ivelj (46. Luyet); Reuteler, Crnogorcevic, Andrade (74. Schertenleib).
Remarks: 27th Crnogorcevic shot on the post. 46. shot on crossbar Crnogorcevic. Cautions: 15 Ahmadova, 76 Mollayeva.
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The game is over
The Swiss women's team deserved to win 3:0. It could easily have been three or four more goals, as the Swiss missed several top chances. It was coach Pia Sundhage's 6th win in 8 games.
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90.+1
Vallotto shoots over the goal
Vallotto is set up wonderfully, but shoots over the goal from a good position. Too bad, she could have crowned her outstanding performance with a goal.
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88.
Crnogorcevic scores to make it 3:0
Wonderful attack by the Swiss. Vallotto passes from midfield to the left wing. Maritz crosses perfectly to the middle and Crnogorcevic nods in from close range to make it 3:0. A sensational goal.
![Crnogorcevic shows what she thinks of her critics after her goal.]()
Crnogorcevic shows what she thinks of her critics after her goal. Keystone -
84.
The Swiss have everything under control
The game is drawing to a close. Will Switzerland score a third goal?
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77.
⚽ Calligaris scores to make it 2:0
Smilla Vallotto's free kick sails to the second post, where Calligaris heads home to make it 2-0. It's wonderful how the Juventus defender shakes off her opponent like an annoying fly before heading home.
![Viola Calligaris (no. 18) celebrates her goal to make it 2-0.]()
Viola Calligaris (no. 18) celebrates her goal to make it 2-0. Keystone -
74.
Schertenleib comes on for Andrade
Sydney Schertenleib, who scored her first goal for the national team against Turkey, replaces Lydia Andrade.
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71.
2222 spectators are in the stadium
The match is over, so we can announce the number of spectators. 2222 spectators are still not seeing much of Azerbaijan and there have been no more Swiss scoring chances for a few minutes now.
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63.
Next chances for Switzerland
Andrade sprints down the line and passes to Crnogorcevic, who misses the ball and it becomes a pass for Vallotto, who shoots straight in. The goalkeeper saves her shot well. After the ensuing corner, she makes a great save to keep out Calligaris' impressive shot.
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58.
Andrade with the next chance
Lehmann passes flat from the wing to the middle, where Crnogorcevic lets the ball through. Andrade gets behind her but her shot is cleared for a corner by the defender.
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54.
Luyet takes heart and shoots
YB player Luyet leaves her opponent standing with a body trick and takes a shot from around seventeen meters. The goalkeeper clears for a corner. The new players get the ball rolling.
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53.
Vallotto shoots over the goal after a one-two
After a one-two in the opponent's penalty area, Vallotto takes the ball on the volley. The ball flies over the goal, but it wasn't easy either.
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46.
Crnogorcevic hits the crossbar after 6 seconds
After 6 seconds, Crnogorcevic gets her shot away from the penalty area. Her shot hits the crossbar.
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46.
Four changes for Switzerland
Alisha Lehmann (for Bachmann), Smilla Vallotto (for Terchoun), Naomi Luyet (for Ivelj) and Nadine Riesen (for Stierli) are substituted.
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Half-time
Switzerland take a well-deserved 1:0 lead into the break
After the first half, the only thing the Swiss have to blame themselves for is that they only took one of their numerous chances. Azerbaijan did not create any serious chances in the first half. The difference in class is clear to see, but is not yet sufficiently reflected in the result.
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46.+2
Reuteler misses a double chance
After a corner from Bachmann, the ball comes to Reuteler in a roundabout way. The goalkeeper saves her header with a lightning reflex and Reuteler volleys the follow-up shot over the goal.
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45.+1
Crnogorcevic sets up a chance
Crnogorcevic breaks through and passes back from the baseline. An opponent is only just able to stop Bachmann decisively and a corner is awarded.
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43.
Andrade and Reuteler miss top chances
After a corner kick for Azerbaijan, Switzerland launch a counter-attack. Andrade gets away from everyone and then shoots too early. However, the goalkeeper deflects her shot to the side, allowing Andrade to get another touch. She crosses to the middle and Reuteler shoots wide of the goal from close range. It was almost negligent that Switzerland did not increase the lead to 2:0 with these chances.
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41.
Reuteler tries from distance
Andrade runs onto a ball and passes to Reuteler. She leaves an opponent standing and then smashes the ball over the goal from around 20 meters.
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36.
Calligaris with a shot from an acute angle
Calligaris gets through on the baseline, the opponent raises her hand because she sees the ball out of play, but play continues. Calligaris seems a little surprised herself and shoots at goal from an acute angle. The goalkeeper, who seems to be a weak point, defends the ball confidently for once.
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30.
Swiss goal does not count
An Azerbaijani player heads the ball into her own goal after a Swiss free kick. However, the goal does not count as the referee decides it is offside. If there was a VAR, the scene would have been looked at again. But there is nothing to discuss, the referee has made her decision.
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27.
Crnogorcevic hits the post
Crnogorcevic has a great chance shortly after the opening goal. Her shot hits the right post.
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25.
⚽ Terchoun scores to make it 1:0
First goal since April 2016 for Meriame Terchoun. A cross is insufficiently cleared by Azerbaijan. The ball ends up in a roundabout way on the edge of the sixteen to Bachmann, who puts the ball over short. Terchoun takes a direct shot and makes it 1:0. The shot is well-placed but not sharp and the goalkeeper looks pretty old.
![Meriame Terchoun scores with her shot from just outside the penalty area to make it 1:0.]()
Meriame Terchoun scores with her shot from just outside the penalty area to make it 1:0. Keystone -
20.
Crnogorcevic heads past the goal
Central defender Bühler joins the attack and crosses to the middle. Crnogorcevic rises high and heads just wide of the goal. It is the Swiss' best chance so far.
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19.
Bachmann pulls away
Bachmann, who is wearing the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Lia Wälti, takes heart and shoots from over 20 meters. Her shot clearly misses the target.
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15.
🟨 Ahmadova with a curious handball
Ahmadova, who is under no pressure, stops a ball with her outstretched arm completely unnecessarily and is shown a yellow card. A blackout that is rarely seen. The resulting free kick poses no danger.
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13.
Andrade with his first shot
Bachmann moves down the line and passes to Andrade in the back. The 25-year-old finishes somewhat hastily and is unable to seriously challenge the goalkeeper.
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12.
Switzerland control the game
The Swiss are running the ball, but they are still unable to get into the danger zone. There are also a few too many misplaced passes.
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6.
Misunderstanding between Bühler and Bachmann
Bühler wants to play Bachmann in midfield, but she expects a pass into the deep and Bühler's pass rolls straight into the feet of an opponent. Such coordination problems must of course be rectified.
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3.
Good corner kick variation
Stierli passes to Bachmann and receives the ball again. Her cross reaches Crnogorcevic again, who heads the ball towards the middle. However, there are only players from Azerbaijan there and the chance disappears.
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2.
First half chance
Bachmann crosses the free kick from the left half of the pitch to the center. Crnogorcevic rises highest, but her header sails clear past the goal.
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1.
The game gets underway
The sun is shining in Lausanne and Switzerland kick off. And after just a few seconds, Ramona Bachmann takes the first free kick.
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Switzerland's starting line-up
Starting line-up: Peng; Maritz, Calligaris, Bühler, Stierli; Terchoun, Bachmann, Ivelj; Reuteler, Crnogorcevic, Andrade.
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Preview
Pia Sundhage in search of the starting eleven
"The reason we lose the ball is misunderstandings. Now it's about making connections between the players," explained national team coach Pia Sundhage ahead of the game. After many changes in the line-up in the recent past, the Swede wants to find a regular eleven soon in view of the home European Championship.
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Preview
Record player Crnogorcevic has clear ideas
Record-breaking international Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic gave her guidelines after the 2-0 win in Turkey: "In the final third, we need clearer passes and more pace and changes of rhythm. We also need to create better scoring chances. It would be nice if we could do that on Tuesday."
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Preview
A new phase of European Championship preparation begins
From now on at the latest, national coach Pia Sundhage and her players will only have to prepare as best they can for next year's European Championship (July 2 to July 27). The results take a back seat, even if they are of course never completely irrelevant. A win against Azerbaijan is a must, including as many goals as possible and some progress compared to Friday's match.
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Preview
Promotion to League A of the Nations League is achieved
Switzerland have already achieved their only possible goal for the European Championship qualifiers - a return to League A of the Nations League - in Friday's penultimate match in Turkey. Even before Azerbaijan are welcomed to the Lausanne Pontaise, the group win is secured.
