Switzerland are through to the quarter-finals of the women’s European Championships for the first time, but boy, did they leave it late.Riola Xhemaili’s 92nd-minute equaliser sent the hosts throug...
Switzerland are through to the quarter-finals of the women’s European Championships for the first time, but boy, did they leave it late.
Riola Xhemaili’s 92nd-minute equaliser sent the hosts through at Finland’s expense, throwing the packed Stade de Genève into raptures.
If either fan base were feeling the nerves ahead of what was effectively a knock-out game come early, you’d never have guessed. Outside before kickoff, a wave of red shirts descended on the ground. Inside, the sizeable contingent of Finnish fans made themselves known from the off.
Drums, non-stop chanting, combined with the sheer number of Swiss fans hoping to see their side make history on home soil, created a sensational atmosphere.
Switzerland with possession, Finland with the threat
On the pitch, the Swiss monopolised the opening 15 minutes. Svenja Fölmli and Noëlle Maritz saw shots blocked in quick succession after six minutes.
The best chance for Pia Sundhage’s side came in the 10th minute. Sydney Schertenleib’s cross tempted Viola Calligaris into trying an audacious bicycle kick. Unfortunately for the centre-back, she got her timing all wrong and the ball ran away for a throw-in.
The Finns then flickered into life, having weathered the storm. Although a couple of corners were all they could muster, one did lead to a goalmouth scramble after Livia Peng spilled a header from Oona Sevenius.
But if it weren’t for some alert goalkeeping from Peng, Finland would’ve gone into the half-time break ahead. Eveliina Summanen’s free kick was shinned goalward by Eva Nyström. The Finn knew very little about it, but Peng reacted in the nick of time to smother the ball.
A dominant and anxious Switzerland
The second half was almost a carbon copy of the first. Switzerland largely dominated the possession and chances, but were unable to find that final moment of quality. Seemingly unwilling to pull the trigger from distance, Marko Saloranta’s team were never duly untroubled by their Swiss counterparts.
Then, with a little over 10 minutes left, everything changed. Sanni Franssi somehow managed to wriggle free of three Swiss defenders in the box. As the ball broke to Emma Koivisto, she was tripped by Calligaris. Finland received a penalty kick, signaling disaster for Switzerland.
Natalia Kuikka stepped up and converted. In the city that’s home to one of the offices of the United Nations, the newly established Finnish embassy behind Peng’s goal went wild. The Swiss clock was ticking. Chances came and went for Xhemaili and Ana Crnogorčević as the game entered stoppage time.
And then it happened. That goal. The goal. A goal that could transform women’s football in Switzerland. Alayah Pilgrim, Lehmann and Crnogorčević exchanged some neat passes between the Finnish defence. Crnogorčević played the ball inside to Géraldine Reutele, who whipped a low cross into the six-yard box. And there was Xhemaili to sweep home.
The stadium exploded. The concrete beneath my feet turned into rubber. Finnish hearts were broken, Swiss dreams were alive once more. The full-time whistle prompted more celebrations. Fans poured out of the stadium and into the main train station, singing, chanting and clapping.
In the most dramatic of circumstances, Switzerland have won through to the quarter-finals of the European Championships for the first time. A hard-fought 1-1 draw against Finland was just enough to secure second place in the group on goal difference. On home soil, they haven’t just advanced—they’ve won the hearts of a nation.
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Category: General Sports
