The Swiss U21 team provided the essentials in their qualifying match for Euro 2023. Mauro Lustrinelli’s players won 1-0 in Lugano ahead of Bulgaria.
The Helvetians needed to win the 3 points to continue to put pressure on the Netherlands, but also to simply garner points for the play-offs which will concern the best 2nd group.
Faced with harmless Bulgarians, the Swiss dominated while having difficulty finding the fault. Dan Ndoye hit the post late in the first half, but it was in the next 45 minutes that Mauro Lustrinelli’s men were able to make the difference.
Fabian Rieder decisive
The Swiss opened the scoring in the 56th minute thanks to Fabian Rieder after a rather confused scene in the Bulgarian penalty area. The ball came back to the Young Boys player who opened his foot to lodge the ball in the right place while several Bulgarian players were on the goal line. Perhaps he was in an offside position, however.
The Swiss will play their last group game on Wednesday in Moldova.
ats/btro