Switzerland are all but in the World Cup and could see their place clinched later in the day if results fall their way. They beat Norway, 2-0, away in impressive fashion, clinching at least a playoff spot. Fabian Schär scored early and the Swiss never looked back, comfortably outplaying their opponents.
Norway vs. Switzerland: Final score 2-0, Swiss all but in the finals
Switzerland look headed to the World Cup after their big win over Norway.
Schär's opener came in the 12th minute on a free kick delivered by Gökhan Inler from the right hand side of the penalty area. Norway's defending wasn't great as they let Schär get free and win a header that he directed into the back of the net.
Things got worse quickly for Norway. Marcus Pedersen picked up an injury not long afterwards, forcing Joshua King into the game early. Two minutes after King’s entrance, Switzerland nearly double their lead, but Haris Seferovic’s apparent goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
Norway began to look better not long after the disallowed goal and appeared to have a shot of getting back into the game as the teams headed into the locker room, but they couldn’t carry their momentum into the second half. Schär scored again in the 51st minute, putting in a similar goal to the first one. The free kick was a bit more straight on than curled, but the finish was eerily similar, as Schär rose up in the center of the box and nodded past Rune Almenning Jarstein.
The Norwegians suffered yet another injury just over 15 minutes later, when Tom Høgli was stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Omar Elabdellaoui. The hosts never truly got close to scoring, perhaps hindered by their two injuries, as Switzerland kept a clean sheet easily.
Norway: Jarstein, Hogli (Elabdellaoui 70’), Bjordal, Hangeland, Ruud, Nordtveit, Elyounoussi, Eikrem (Jenssen 64’), Johansen, Braathen, Pedersen (King 22’)
Goals: None
Switzerland: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, von Bergen, Schär, Rodriguez, Inler, Xhaka (Senderos 90’), Behrami, Stocker (Fernandes 74’), Shaqiri (Dzemaili 90’), Seferovic
Goals: Schär (12’, 51’)
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