Euro 2025: Host Switzerland's late goals secure 2-0 win over Iceland
Géraldine Reuteler netted with 14 minutes remaining as the Stadion Wankdorf erupted in celebration in a sea of red, and Alayah Pilgrim sealed the result in the final minute.
It will now be all to play for on Thursday when Switzerland meets Finland in their final group match, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake. Both teams are level on three points — three points behind
Norway, which beat Finland 2-1
earlier and has now advanced to the knockout stage as Group A champion.
Iceland has zero points and is out of the tournament regardless of what happens in its final match against Norway.
In contrast to when the teams played the opening matches last Wednesday, when Switzerland was engulfed by a heat wave, it was raining for most of the match in Bern.
Iceland almost scored in the opening minute but Ingibjörg Sigurdardóttir volleyed off the crossbar.
Switzerland thought it had taken the lead on the half-hour mark. A corner was whipped in and Svenja Fölmli's header was inadvertently nodded into the net by Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir.
Swiss fans celebrated but it was ruled out after a review on the pitchside monitor for a foul by Fölmli in the buildup.
Inside a packed stadium, with a capacity crowd of nearly 30,000, the 2,000 Icelandic fans made themselves heard with their thunder claps, while the equally fervent home support yelled 'Hopp Schwiiz.'
And almost all of them thought Switzerland had taken the lead in stunning fashion in first-half stoppage time as Iman Beney's long-range attempt rippled the side netting.
Iceland started the second half in almost exactly the same way it had started the first — by hitting the crossbar.
This time Karolína Lea Vilhjalmsdottir's free kick skimmed the top of the woodwork.
Switzerland had barely had a shot on target until it broke the deadlock in the 76th minute. Sydney Schertenleib threaded an intelligent ball through for Reuteler to run onto and slot into the far bottom corner.
And Switzerland wrapped up its first win in its home tournament when Pilgrim collected a pinpoint pass from another substitute Leila Wandeler and cut inside before curling into the back of the net.
___
AP soccer:
https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Former Braves players Freddie Freeman and Max Fried are making their return to Atlanta as All-Stars
ATLANTA (AP) — Four years of return visits to Atlanta has prepared Freddie Freeman for another Tuesday night, this time as the starting first baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game. Freeman, now in his fourth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, played his first 12 seasons in Atlanta. He makes no effort to hide his emotions when he returns and says he won't be surprised if another warm reception from Atlanta fans creates another emotional response. 'Now that I'm here, I think it's going to be special,' Freeman said before Monday night's Home Run Derby. "For the last four years, every time I come back, the fans, they've given me such great big, standing ovations, so I don't expect anything. 'I'm just happy to be back and play in front of these fans again. So if they give me one, believe me, I'll take it all in. I think you guys know, whatever I feel on the field, I let it come out. So we'll see what happens tomorrow.' Freeman won't be the only former Atlanta star making his return. Max Fried, who leads the American League and is tied for the MLB lead with 11 wins in his first season with the New York Yankees, returns following eight seasons with the Braves. Both players still have homes in Atlanta and get to sleep in their own beds this week. Fried won't be able to participate in the game due to a blister on his left index finger. Fried left Atlanta to sign an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in December. Freeman said he was 'so happy' Fried landed the big contract. 'I think we all know Max and how wonderful a person he is,' Freeman said. 'And to see him get that contract rightfully, he deserves. He's, you know, a big-game pitcher pitching on the biggest stage. ... And it's really hard in your first year of a new contract, new team. ... And for him to go out there and have (success), it's awesome. Especially in pinstripes in the Bronx, when there's a lot of pressure on you.' Fried was replaced on the All-Star roster by Yankees teammate Carlos Rodón but is still attending the festivities in Atlanta. The Yankees may start Fried in a three-game series at AL East-leading Toronto on July 21-23 after opening the second half by visiting the Braves. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was clear how much it meant to Freeman to return to Atlanta as an All-Star. 'It's something that I know once they announced that it was going to be held here, it was marked on his calendar,' Roberts said. 'And then that was kind of his goal, was to get back here and get in front of the Braves' faithful that cheered him on for, what, 11, 12 years. So he's sleeping in his own bed for a couple nights.' "It's special,' he said. 'I think every time I come back, I try to portray what Atlanta means to me. Oh, it's special every time I come back and the receptions they've given me the last four years. So I spent a lot of wonderful years here. ... I'm excited to be back.' ___
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Former Braves players Freddie Freeman and Max Fried are making their return to Atlanta as All-Stars
ATLANTA (AP) — Four years of return visits to Atlanta has prepared Freddie Freeman for another Tuesday night, this time as the starting first baseman for the National League in the All-Star Game. Freeman, now in his fourth season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, played his first 12 seasons in Atlanta. He makes no effort to hide his emotions when he returns and says he won't be surprised if another warm reception from Atlanta fans creates another emotional response. 'Now that I'm here, I think it's going to be special,' Freeman said before Monday night's Home Run Derby. 'For the last four years, every time I come back, the fans, they've given me such great big, standing ovations, so I don't expect anything. 'I'm just happy to be back and play in front of these fans again. So if they give me one, believe me, I'll take it all in. I think you guys know, whatever I feel on the field, I let it come out. So we'll see what happens tomorrow.' Freeman won't be the only former Atlanta star making his return. Max Fried, who leads the American League and is tied for the MLB lead with 11 wins in his first season with the New York Yankees, returns following eight seasons with the Braves. Both players still have homes in Atlanta and get to sleep in their own beds this week. Fried won't be able to participate in the game due to a blister on his left index finger. Fried left Atlanta to sign an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees in December. Freeman said he was 'so happy' Fried landed the big contract. 'I think we all know Max and how wonderful a person he is,' Freeman said. 'And to see him get that contract rightfully, he deserves. He's, you know, a big-game pitcher pitching on the biggest stage. ... And it's really hard in your first year of a new contract, new team. ... And for him to go out there and have (success), it's awesome. Especially in pinstripes in the Bronx, when there's a lot of pressure on you.' Fried was replaced on the All-Star roster by Yankees teammate Carlos Rodón but is still attending the festivities in Atlanta. The Yankees may start Fried in a three-game series at AL East-leading Toronto on July 21-23 after opening the second half by visiting the Braves. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it was clear how much it meant to Freeman to return to Atlanta as an All-Star. 'It's something that I know once they announced that it was going to be held here, it was marked on his calendar,' Roberts said. 'And then that was kind of his goal, was to get back here and get in front of the Braves' faithful that cheered him on for, what, 11, 12 years. So he's sleeping in his own bed for a couple nights.' Freeman said he has visited with Braves manager Brian Snitker and some former teammates but spent more time relishing his relationship with the Atlanta fans. 'It's special,' he said. 'I think every time I come back, I try to portray what Atlanta means to me. Oh, it's special every time I come back and the receptions they've given me the last four years. So I spent a lot of wonderful years here. ... I'm excited to be back.' ___ AP MLB:
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Why Jerry Rice has big concerns about the 49ers: ‘Big question mark'
The youth movement in San Francisco isn't exciting 49ers great Jerry Rice. In fact, he seems to be a bit concerned about the franchise and feels that things are in flux rather than being a team looking to compete for a Super Bowl, which is being hosted in San Fran next season. 'I just feel like we added on too many pieces. The reason why I say that is these guys are young guys,' Rice said to the San Jose Mercury News. 'Super Bowl 60 is going to be here in San Francisco [at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara]. I would have preferred to sort of leave everything like last year, add on to that, and have a chance for this coming year.' Advertisement 3 Jerry Rice is concerned about the state of the 49ers. Getty Images The 49ers had quite a bit of change this offseason after letting a number of veteran players go and trading away receiver Deebo Samuel. San Francisco focused heavily on the draft, making 11 picks that included taking Georgia product Mykel Williams with the 11th overall selection. Advertisement 3 The 49ers selected Mykel Williams with the No. 11 pick in the NFL draft. AP 3 The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel to the Commanders this offseason. AP 'A lot of young guys. Now, can Kyle Shanahan pull it together and can these guys jell? We have to wait and see,' Rice continued. 'But there's this big question mark if it's going to work.'I'm always going to go Niners no matter what. But we're bringing in so many young players. It's going to take a while for that team to jell. If it doesn't happen this year, then maybe the next couple of years.' The 49ers are coming off a season in which they went 6-11 and missed the postseason after making the Super Bowl the year before and making the playoffs in three straight seasons. Advertisement San Francisco was 4-4 when they reached their bye week in Week 9, but would go on to win just two of their final nine games of the year in 2024.
