Xhemaili’s Late Leveller Floors Finland And Sends Switzerland Into Quarter-final

Switzerland ensured that section liking successful Euro 2025 persists by nan tegument of its teeth. They were connected nan brink of heartbreak erstwhile Natalia Kuikka scored a precocious punishment to put Finland connected nan verge of leapfrogging them into nan past eight. It looked arsenic if they had made a messiness of a manageable business but nan stands erupted when, 2 minutes into added time, nan substitute Riola Xhemaili vanished from adjacent range. Spain await nan hosts, who whitethorn now judge thing is possible.

At kick-off, Geneva pulsated nether nan early evening sun. This felt nan loudest, astir partisan ambiance of nan summertime truthful far; nan metropolis had been abuzz each afternoon, nan reddish tide that marched towards nan stadium coating a momentous picture, and nan consciousness was of a location state yet fresh to clasp nan tournament’s glorious turbulence unflinchingly.

Switzerland’s players posed for a squad photograph connected nan transportation upon their arrival, conscionable nether 2 hours earlier nan start. This was an juncture to beryllium savoured and they quickly sought to compression everything from it. The sound was deafening erstwhile Svenja Fölmli, seizing connected a loose ball, concisely sensed a tally connected goal. Their early unit did not fto up and brought a clear chance successful nan 11th infinitesimal erstwhile Viola Calligaris, each unsocial successful beforehand of extremity aft a free-kick had not been cleared, shaped for an royal bicycle footwear but wholly miscued.

It was an eager contortion for a centre-back to attempt. Next came a much acquainted incursion from Sydney Schertenleib, nan talented young Barcelona forward, and a 20-yard curler that Anna Koivunen hit away. Fölmli backheeled wide moments later and Switzerland, earning hefty marks for inventiveness, were bashing astatine nan door.

Naturally they were almost punished for that profligacy, a late-arriving Oona Sevenius seeing her header saved adjacent nan statement by Livia Peng aft consecutive Finland corners. There was an urgency to Finland erstwhile they did perpetrate players forward. Switzerland’s failings astatine some ends successful their opening conclusion to Norway would not person gone unnoticed and astatine least, by nan half hour, Marko Saloranta’s broadside had a foothold from which to trial location nerves.

Riola Xhemaili turns location Switzerland’s equaliser successful nan 2nd infinitesimal of stoppage time. Photograph: Bernadett Szabó/Reuters

Perhaps Switzerland were unsure whether to instrumentality aliases twist. Their momentum had dulled, though Smilla Vallotto was fixed a now uncommon opening and placed wide from 15 yards. As half-time approached proceedings had go scrappy; an progressively pensive crowd was almost aghast erstwhile Peng held connected brilliantly to forestall Eva Nyström unwittingly putting Finland successful beforehand aft deflecting a free-kick.

Presumably distressed by nan nonaccomplishment of tempo, Sundhage made 2 changes astatine nan interval. Oona Siren, nan clever West Ham midfielder, had begun to dictate for Finland. But nan mobility was whether, pinch nan onus connected them, her squad could find nan extremity they required. The Finns were progressively allowed possession, their opponents’ scheme presumably being to counterattack them into oblivion.

A right-sided burst by Iman Beney, who joined Manchester City past month, fleetingly threatened specified consequences. But a genuine shooting chance did not get until nan 63rd minute, erstwhile Vallotto drilled consecutive astatine Koivunen. Then Leila Wandeler, 1 of nan replacements, ballooned over; astatine nan different end, worry was palpable whenever Finland moreover hinted astatine ruining nan party.

Switzerland now looked much apt to move nan screw. Another Wandeler break brought a transverse conscionable excessively precocious for an unmarked Vallotto. This clip they faced bitter consequences, Sanni Franssi struggling to extricate herself from a tussle connected nan byline earlier Emma Koivisto took over. She was hacked down by Calligaris, nan punishment grant intolerable to dispute. Kuikka kept her cool aft waiting for an eternity; desolation seemed to await nan Swiss until Xhemaili swept home.