Switzerland hit seven to qualify for EURO 2016
Friday, October 9, 2015
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Switzerland 7-0 San Marino
The home side turned in an all-round performance to overwhelm San Marino at the AFG Arena and claim their place at UEFA EURO 2016.
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- Victory and Lithuania draw secures Swiss place at UEFA EURO 2016
- Michael Lang opens scoring on 20 minutes
- Three penalties awarded as San Marino are put to the sword
- Hosts five points clear of third-place Slovenia
- Final qualifiers: Estonia v Switzerland, San Marino v Slovenia (Monday)
Vladimir Petković's Switzerland secured second place in Group E after claiming an emphatic victory over visitors San Marino.
Facing opponents who had already conceded 26 goals in their UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying campaign, Switzerland dominated the match from the off and should have taken the lead in the tenth minute, Josip Drmic's header falling perfectly for Michael Lang, but – from five metres out – he could only guide the ball wide of the target.
The hosts claimed the breakthrough in the 20th minute, after Aldo Simoncini's sprawling save denied Johan Djourou but conceded a corner. Ricardo Rodriguez's delivery was flicked on by Breel Embolo and steered in at the back post by Lang, who looked thrilled to have atoned for his earlier miss.
Switzerland doubled their advantage in the 55th minute from the spot; after Davide Cesarini was adjudged to have handled the ball, skipper Gökhan Inler calmly sent the keeper the wrong way. They extended their lead still further ten minutes later through Admir Mehmedi, who scrambled the ball into the empty net after the luckless Simoncini could only parry Fabian Schär's long-range effort.
More goals followed – Johan Djourou expertly slotted home from the penalty spot after a clumsy challenge sent Embolo sprawling, then Pajtim Kasami – with arguably the goal of the game – powered the ball in from the edge of the area after good build-up work from François Moubandje.
San Marino stuck to their task admirably but were struggling to cope with Switzerland's pace and power. The 80th minute saw yet another penalty awarded after Alessandro Della Valle was booked for holding on to substitue Eren Derdiyok, Embolo stepping up to rifle the ball home.
Derdiyok made it seven with one minute of extra time to go, running clear of the San Marino defence before nodding in Renato Steffen's pinpoint cross, sparking jubilant scenes on the Swiss bench, capping a fine all-round performance.