Beney’s Switzerland edged out in exciting Euros opener | OneFootball

A second half turnaround consigned Iman Beney’s Switzerland to a 2-1 defeat against Norway in their opening Euro 2025 Group A assignment.

Beney, who joined City during the summer transfer window ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, lined up at right wingback with the Swiss backed by a vocal crowd of over 34,000 in Basel.

Despite Norway boasting household names such as Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham-Hansen and Ada Hegerberg to name just a few, it was the hosts who dominated the early exchanges with Gerladine Reuteler rifling against the bar midway through the first half.

It was a warning shot from the hosts, and Beney and co. would open the scoring soon after when Nadine Riesen fired in off the post after the ball ricocheted back to her on the left-hand-side of the box.

The Swiss were on top, with Beney getting plenty of joy down the right. She cut the ball back to Reuteler for another chance for the hosts, with the midfielder firing over on this occasion before the break.

But Norway came out after the restart with a fresh impetus and turned the game on its head soon after, with Hegerberg grabbing her 50th international goal with a powerful header from a corner.

The Swiss continued to press forward despite the setback, with Beney close to making contact on a teasing ball into the far post despite being closely monitored by Marit Bratberg Lund.

But Norway would add a second before the hour through an unfortunate own goal.

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The move was sparked when a clever run from Caroline Graham Hansen saw her get in behind down the Norway left, and her ball across the face of goal was turned into the Switzerland net by a rapidly retreating Julia Stierli.

It could’ve been three in the space of eight second half minutes, had Hegerberg not been denied by Livia Peng from close-range soon after.

The Swiss had been dominant in the opening 45, but the second was a different story, and Norway would be handed another golden opportunity for number three from the penalty spot after a clear handball from Reuteler.

Hegerberg stepped up to do the honours but dragged her effort wide of the post to keep the margin at just one goal.

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Switzerland continued to battle, seeing a penalty appeal waved away for offside before Reuteler missed the target after breaking through the Norway defence with 90 minutes approaching.

At the other end, Manchester United’s Celine Bizet also went close in an exciting finale, looking to dink Peng but only finding the side netting, before a timely block from Ingrid Engen on the line prevented Beney from grabbing a late equaliser.

Despite Switzerland and Beney’s best efforts, they open Euro 2025 with a slender defeat but have shown they’re more than capable of ruffling some feathers at the tournament.

They face Iceland in their next Group A assignment on Sunday 6 July, with kick-off at 20:00 (UK).

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