Switzerland 2-0 Iceland: Reuteler and Pilgrim strike to keep Swiss’s hopes alive | OneFootball

Switzerland kept their UEFA Women’s Euro 2025 campaign alive after beating Iceland 2-0 at the Wankdorf Stadium on Sunday night.

The first half was a fiery, end-to-end affair, with both sides threatening to break the deadlock. Iceland rattled the crossbar early on, while Switzerland had a goal ruled out by VAR, setting the tone for a tightly contested opening 45 minutes.

Goals from Géraldine Reuteler and Alayah Pilgrim in the second half helped the hosts secure their first win and three points of the tournament.

As it happened

The opening 10 minutes were lively, with both sides clearly aware that only a win would keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.

Jón Þór Hauksson’s side came closest to breaking the deadlock, as Ingibjörg Sigurðardóttir’s half-volley crashed against the crossbar – much to the relief of the 28,000 Swiss fans in attendance.

Switzerland looked to control the game and dominated possession, but struggled in the final third to create clear-cut chances as they searched for the opener at Wankdorf Stadium.

The game turned scrappy as the first half wore on, with both sides committing reckless challenges and collecting yellow cards. Pia Sundhage’s side thought they had capitalised on the chaos with a goal in the 29th minute, but a VAR decision ruled it out.

The Swiss continued to push for an opening goal before half-time but were unable to convert, as a resilient Icelandic defence held firm, keeping the game level at the break.

Stelpurnar Okkar nearly replicated their first-half scare just minutes after the restart, striking the crossbar once again. Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir stepped up for a long-range free-kick and, with exquisite technique, clipped the top of the bar as the ball sailed over for a goal kick.

It was a sign of intent from Jón Þór Hauksson’s side, who were determined to keep their quarter-final hopes alive and secure their first Women’s Euro win since 2013.

Iman Beney had a couple of chances throughout the match, but her best opportunity came shortly after Iceland’s spell of pressure. The new Manchester City signing was picked out at the back post, and her looping header was brilliantly tipped over the bar by Cecilía Rúnarsdóttir to keep the score level.

The game grew increasingly tense, with neither side looking likely to score. It was clear that a moment of brilliance was needed to spark life into a match that lacked any real quality.

That moment of quality finally arrived in the 74th minute, as Switzerland created the best chance of the match through Reuteler. The midfielder was picked out just outside the 18-yard box, skipped past her marker, and calmly slotted her effort past Rúnarsdóttir to give the hosts the lead.

It was a much-needed goal for Pia Sundhage’s side, injecting new life into their performance as they began to play with more freedom in search of a second.

Substitute Pilgrim proved to be a brilliant addition off the bench, finding space on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful effort from range. Her shot deflected off an Icelandic defender and beat Rúnarsdóttir, sealing a hard-fought win for Switzerland.

The goal not only secured all three points but also kept Switzerland’s quarter-final hopes alive, setting up a decisive showdown with Finland. Iceland, meanwhile, will face Norway in their final group game, already knowing they can no longer progress to the next stage.

The lineups

SWI: Peng; Beney, Calligaris, Stierli, Maritz, Riesen; Reuteler, Wälti, Vallotto; Schertenleib, Fölmli

ISL: Rúnarsdóttir; Arnardóttir, Viggósdóttir, Sigurðardóttir, Árnadóttir; Jóhannsdóttir, Vilhjálmsdóttir, Brynjarsdóttir; Albertsdóttir, Jónsdóttir, Jessen