Switzerland fended off a Hungary fightback to hitch Germany on the prime of Group A at Euro 2024 on Saturday.
Murat Yakin’s males gave the impression to be cruising to a routine win after stepping into at half-time 2-0 up because of efforts from Kwadwo Duah and Michel Aebischer.
Hungary belatedly gave their boisterous supporters one thing to cheer when Barnabas Varga pulled one again halfway by way of the second half.
However Switzerland made certain of the win deep into injury-time when substitute Breel Embolo lobbed Hungary goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to make it 3-1.
Breel Embolo seals the win for Switzerland 🔒
No strapping, no downside for the striker!#Euro2024 | #HUNSUI pic.twitter.com/NJWpvYLh6f
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) June 15, 2024
Xhaka stars in one-sided first half
Hungary got here in as many individuals’s darkish horses, having misplaced simply two of their earlier 20 video games, however they have been blown away in a primary half dominated by the Swiss.
With Grant Xhaka pulling the strings in midfield and Aebischer and Dan Ndoye providing tempo and guile from broad positions, Switzerland began strongly and it was no shock then they took the lead after 12 minutes.
Aebischer drifted in off the left to discover a pocket of house which he utilised to string a ball by way of to Duah and he made no mistake by clipping previous the advancing Gulacsi. The assistant referee’s flag went up however VAR overruled and the objective stood.
Gulacsi got here to Milos Kerkez’s rescue seven minutes later after a sloppy move from the Bournemouth left-back gave Ruben Vargas a transparent run on objective. Gulacsi stood tall and Vargas’ shot clipped his shoulder and went broad.
Hungary had provided nothing as much as the purpose they virtually equalised after 39 minutes, Willi Orban’s header from a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick aimed straight at Yann Sommer.
Aebischer made it 2-0 thanks partially to some woeful Hungary defending. Having initially didn’t clear regardless of a number of alternatives, they then stood off the Bologna man on the sting of the field and he took full benefit with an exquisite curled effort into the underside right-hand nook.
Michel Aebischer, take a bow 🙌
A cultured end to double Switzerland’s lead simply earlier than the break 🔥#Euro2024 | #HUNSUI pic.twitter.com/PQBRwDTHue
— ITV Soccer (@itvfootball) June 15, 2024
Hungary lastly fireplace
Hungary boss Marco Rossi clearly had phrases along with his facet on the break, though their effectiveness was not prompt.
Gulacsi saved properly from Duah and Vargas earlier than Hungary lastly bought a foothold within the recreation.
They must have halved the deficit after 63 minutes however Vargas powered a header broad from six yards after an excellent cross from Roland Sallai.
He did significantly better two minutes later from an identical transfer. This time it was Szoboszlai’s flip to ship the cross in and Vargas outmuscled his marker earlier than planting a header previous Sommer on the far put up.
All of the sudden it was a unique recreation as Hungary poured ahead, Sallai replicating Xhaka’s first-half affect within the centre of the sector.
However, for all their territorial dominance, Sommer was not often referred to as into motion.
Certainly, Switzerland must have elevated their benefit, Ndoye seeing a shot deflected inches over, Szoboszlai virtually glancing a right-wing nook into his personal web and substitute Fabian Rieder rounding Gulacsi however failing to complete.
Embolo missed just about everything of final season with a cruciate damage and his goalscoring look as a late substitute topped an exquisite day for Yakin, the striker seizing on a poor header from Orban to complete coolly.
