Keystone-SDA | Friday, 06 September 2024
U21 international Franck Surdez is disappointed, in the background the Albanians are cheering
Quelle: KEYSTONE/VALENTIN FLAURAUD
The Swiss U21 national team suffered a setback in the European Championship qualification. Coach Sascha Stauch’s team lost 1:2 to Albania in Lausanne.
In the 85th minute, Switzerland had a great chance to at least get a point and thus save their six-and-a-half-year unbeaten streak in home games. GC player Nikolas Muci stepped up to take a penalty but was stopped by the strong reaction of the Albanian goalkeeper.
The first defeat in the seventh match of the qualification was not expected. In March, the Swiss had won 3-1 in Albania, and they also started the match better in Lausanne. Franck Surdez scored the 1-0 for the home team in the 16th minute. But the lead only lasted two minutes before Adrion Pajaziti equalized with the first chance for Albania.
In the 69th minute, it was again Pajaziti, who trained at Fulham, who got the ball after a bad pass from the Swiss in the build-up play and put the visitors in the lead with a long-range shot. The goal came in the middle of a period of pressure from the Swiss, who then seemed shocked and could not find a solution for a long time.
This means that Switzerland has lost the lead in the table to Romania with three rounds to go before the end of the qualification. The third-placed Finns are now only one point behind Switzerland. The Swiss will continue their campaign in Podgorica on Tuesday, where they will once again be favourites against Montenegro and will need a win.
Telegram and table
Switzerland U21 – Albania U21 1:2 (1:1)
Lausanne. – SR Karaoglan (TUR). – Tore: 16. Surdez (Villiger) 1:0. 18. Pajazit (Ismaili) 1:1. 69. Deuteronomy 1:2.
Switzerland: Keller; Ottiger, Amenda, Hajdari, Wallner (88. Magnin); Jashari; Sanches (60. Muci), Dos Santos, Avdullahu (60. Matoshi), Surdez (71. Reichmuth); Villiger (71. Fink).
Remarks: 85. Lilo saves penalty from Muci.
Ranking: 1. Romania 7/16. 2. Switzerland 7/14. 3. Finland 7/13. 4. Albania 9/13. 5. Montenegro 7/7. 6. Armenia 9/2. – Switzerland’s next game is on September 10th away against Montenegro.
Mode: The group winners and the best three runners-up of the nine groups qualify for the 2025 European Championship in Slovakia, the remaining six runners-up play in a playoff for the last three European Championship places.
