In a nail-biting finish to their UEFA Nations League qualifiers, a fresh-faced Spanish team clinched a thrilling 3-2 victory over Switzerland, all thanks to an injury-time penalty orchestrated by none other than substitute Bryan Zaragoza.
When Zaragoza calmly delivered the ball to the net, it topped off a match filled with twists and turns that had spectators on the edge of their seats. The Spanish emergence showcased coach Luis de la Fuente’s willingness to experiment, as he fielded debutants Aitor Paredes, Samu, and Pablo Barrios, confident in their already secured spot in the tournament’s knockout phase.
Spain took command during the opening half, displaying fierce determination. Despite persistent defensive efforts by Switzerland’s goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo, it was Yeremy Pino who broke through the deadlock shortly after the thirty-minute mark.
The drama didn’t stop there. Mvogo managed to block a penalty attempt from Pedri, which followed a foul on Alvaro Morata. Nevertheless, when Nico Williams executed a stunning volley that was heroically cleared off the line, Pino seized the opportunity to tap in the rebound with expert precision.
Switzerland wasn’t going down without a fight. Their substitute, Joel Monteiro, clawed his way past Paredes to equalize in the 62nd minute, sending murmurs through the crowd. But Spain swiftly hit back. Barely five minutes had passed before Bryan Gil took advantage of Switzerland’s defensive hesitations, elegantly dribbling around an opponent to land a left-footed shot in the net, restoring Spain’s lead.
With just eight minutes till the final whistle, another hiccup as Fabian Ruiz’s mishap handed Switzerland an opportunity from the penalty spot. Andi Zeqiri didn’t flinch as he found a way past Robert Sanchez, fresh on the field after halftime, leveling the scoreboard once again. The arrangement seemingly leaned towards a draw. However, when Zaragoza was fouled in Switzerland’s domain during the dying moments of the game, he stepped up and sealed Spain’s triumph, maintaining an upbeat momentum for coach De la Fuente’s squad.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
