Switzerland 1-0 Georgia
Switzerland took a giant stride towards Euro 2020 qualification tonight with a 1-0 win over Georgia at the Kybunpark, St Gallen.
And it was 22 year old Basel striker Cedric Itten, who climbed off the bench to score the vital goal on 77 minutes to put the Swiss in the box seat.
Euro 2020; Switzerland vs Georgia was the big game in Group D tonight. Coming into this game on the back of a crucial 2-0 win over Ireland, Switzerland had their fate in their own hands, and while Georgia put up a brave fight the three points mean Switzerland can finish the job in Gibraltar next week.
The pre-match Switzerland vs Georgia betting odds here at SBOBET had the hosts to win at 1.17, but this was no easy ride against a Georgia side which was in no mood to hand their hosts a win.
Highlights of the game
Switzerland showed plenty of intent in the first half but Georgia had the answers to every question asked by the hosts, showing great resilience. And the visitors had the first meaningful attempt on goal when captain Jaba Kankava had a dipping shot from distance, but Swiss keeper Yann Sommer saved comfortably.
Stephan Lichtsteiner took the captain’s armband for Switzerland, though former skipper Granit Xhaka started after a difficult week in the Premier League. And Lichtsteiner was a constant threat, raiding down the right. On seven minutes he produced an inch perfect cross for Ruben Vargas, but the striker couldn’t keep his header down.
Vargas was making a start for his country after top scorer Haris Seferovic was injured in the warm-up.
The hosts dominated the ball for much of the first half, but Georgia came the closest to scoring on 19 minutes. Striker Giorgi Kvilitaia battled with Manuel Ajanji to meet a ball from the right, and as he fell to the ground he managed to scoop the ball up, past Sommer and onto the upright.
That was fair warning to Switzerland and they began to find some impetus, and Ricardo Rodriguez met Xhaka’s free-kick but his volley flew narrowly wide. And then, five minutes before the break, Nico Elvedi met a Xhaka corner with a powerful header, but Georgia Valeri Kazaishvilli made a brilliant clearance off the line with his head.
Switzerland started the second half on the front foot and Xhaka released Rodriguez who tried a speculative effort from all of 40 yards, forcing Georgia keeper George Loria into a fingertip save.
Georgia were still a threat on the break, and Levan Shengelia twice had shots on goal, but his aim was off. But then there was a rare moment of panic in the Georgia penalty area but they managed to clear and Xhaka hit a tame shot into the arms of Loria.
Petkovic brought Cedric Itten on with 20 minutes to go and what a substitution that was. After a smart passing move Denis Zakaria chipped a ball over the Georgia defence and the 22 year old local boy headed back across the ball and into the net.
The battling visitors wouldn’t lie down though, and Kazaishvili went on a brilliant run, before unleashing a low shot which Sommer got down smartly to save.
Key statistics
Switzerland were expected by many to win this group and this was a big chance to take an iron grip on a Euro 2020 finals place. Having beaten Georgia comfortably in a 0-2 win when the two teams met in Tbilisi (the Swiss dominated that game with 25 shots to six) this was another open game, but more even with the shot count ending up 23 to 14 in Switzerland’s favour.
All credit to Georgia. But they still haven’t beaten the Swiss. The head to head Switzerland vs Georgia results read three wins and a draw for tonight’s hosts.
What’s next?
In a three way fight at the top of Group D, Ireland and Denmark meet in a crunch match at the Aviva Stadium next week. After beating Gibralter 6-0 the Danes are top of the group.
Switzerland travels to Gibraltar and they should confirm their place at Euro 2020 at a stroll. It could end up as a hard luck story for the Irish, who have led the group for some time, but playing their two biggest rivals in the last two games could prove to be a bridge too far.
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