Tight Swiss Have High Hopes

With more belief in one another, they are upbeat about making it to quarterfinals

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BERN – With Switzerland's hopes of making the knockout round of the Women's European Championship hanging in the balance late in the game against Iceland on July 6, substitute Alayah Pilgrim had one thing on her mind when coach Pia Sundhage called her number – to score the goal that would ensure victory.

As her side clung to a 1-0 lead, the 22-year-old came off the bench in the 78th minute on a wet, slippery night.

And, as the clock ticked past 90 minutes, she fired a deflected effort that gave the Swiss a 2-0 cushion that teed them up for a Group A showdown with Finland on July 10, with a place in the last eight at stake.

Geraldine Reuteler got the opener at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern.

“Actually, before I came in, I was manifesting a bit. I wanted to score this goal really bad, and I wanted to be a game changer, and that was in my mind.

“So I just took the ball, went right and took a shot,” Pilgrim said, still caught up in the joy of the moment.