|
|
|
| June 20, 2006 | Tuesday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 23, 1427 |
Switzerland send Togo packing home
Togo 0 Switzerland 2
DORTMUND, June 19: Switzerland overcame a stiff challenge from World Cup debutants Togo on Monday before ending the African side’s hopes with a battling 2-0 win.
After suffering in ferociously hot conditions during their opening 0-0 draw with France, the Swiss still had to work hard with Alex Frei’s strike in the 16th minute and Tranquillo Barnetta's 88th minute drive finally dividing the teams.
Frei was not alone in breathing a large sigh of relief. “Of course that was important,” Frei told German TV.
“Our coach told us at halftime that we had to score a second and we did. The 2-0 victory is ideal.
“There are no easy teams. Togo were strong opponents, they have good players.”
Togo coach Otto Pfister said the superior Swiss finishing had made the difference.
“The Swiss didn’t have a lot of chances. They just used their opportunities better than us.
“We can't be happy but the team is here to learn and I think they put on a good show.”
Togo, whose players had threatened on Sunday to boycott the match over a long-running internal pay dispute, seemed unhampered by the unorthodox build-up as the game finally got underway.
Aside from Frei’s goal, there was little to distinguish the two teams during the first half with Switzerland enjoying plenty of possession but Togo looking the more dangerous on the break.
Just as Switzerland were starting to look shaky, top scorer Frei came to his side's rescue once again, finishing off a well-worked move to claim his 26th international goal.
Right back Ludovic Magnin pressed forward before crossing the ball to Barnetta who deftly flicked a first touch pass across the goalmouth for Frei to turn in.
In the 35th minute, the Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor was involved in the half’s most controversial moment when he attempted to swerve around Patrick Mueller in the penalty area before seeming to be caught by the Swiss defender’s flailing leg.
To Togo’s disgust, the referee ignored their penalty appeals.
It was only when the second half got underway that Switzerland finally started to look worth their lead, with Barnetta, Frei and half-time substitute Hakan Yakin all going close shortly after the re-start.
In the 64th minute Yakin again had an opportunity to double Switzerland’s lead but his sizzling shot was well saved by Togo keeper Kossi Agassa.
Barnetta finally made sure of Switzerland's win with two minutes left, latching on to a ball on the right of the Togo box and lashing in a low, accurate drive into the far corner.
Scorers: Switzerland — Alex Frei 16, Barnetta 88.
Halftime: 0-1.
Teams:
TOGO (4-4-2): 16-Kossi Agassa; 2-Dare Nibombe, 23-Toure Assimiou, 5-Massamesso Tchangai, 8-Kuami Agboh (7-Moustapha Salifou 25); 9-Thomas Dossevi (18-Yao Junior Senaya 69), 10-Cherif Toure Maman (11-Robert Malm 88), 15-Alaixys Romao, 17-Mohamed Kader Coubadja; 13-Richmond Forson, 4-Emmanuel Adebayor.
SWITZERLAND (4-5-1): 1-Pascal Zuberbuehler; 3-Ludovic Magnin, 4-Philippe Senderos, 20-Patrick Mueller, 23-Philipp Degen; 8-Raphael Wicky, 6-Johann Vogel, 7-Ricardo Cabanas (11-Marco Streller 77), 16-Tranquillo Barnetta; 10-Daniel Gygax (22 Hakan Yakin 46), 9-Alex Frei (18-Mauro Lustrinelli 87).
Referee: Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay).—Reuters
Group G standings
(Tabulated under played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):
Switzerland 2 1 1 0 2 0 4
South Korea 2 1 1 0 3 2 4
France 2 0 2 0 1 1 2
Togo 2 0 0 2 1 4 0
|
|
|
|
