Ireland need to beat Switzerland after Russian romp
Wednesday, 10 September 2003 19:45Ireland will have to beat Switzerland in Basle next month if they wish to progress to the Euro 2004 finals, after Russia beat the Swiss 4-1 in Moscow. A fine hat-trick from Boulykin proved to be the difference between the two sides.
The result left Switzerland top of the table with 12 points, while Russia took over from Ireland in second place. Although both sides have 11 points, Russia moved up a place courtesy of the two teams' head-to-head clashes and better goal difference, meaning that Ireland must beat Switzerland is they wish to make the play-off stages of the qualifiers.
The home side started the game nervously early on, and unlike their game with Ireland last weekend they producing a several unforced errors at the back - one of which gave Switzerland the lead in the 13th minute when left-winger Karyaka fired into his own net as he attempted to clear Stephane Chapuisat's cross.
However Russia were back on level terms six minutes later, when Boulykin drove the ball into the empty net with an unopposed close-range header from Rolan Gusev's precise cross from the right. Boulykin made it two on two minutes with a magnificent solo goal that saw him pick up the ball on the edge of the penalty area and dribbled past three defenders to slot the ball past helpless Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler.
Boulykin completed his hat-trick in the 59th minute when he headed in a Mostovoi corner to give Russia a comfortable 3-1 lead, and Mostovoi added the fourth with 18 minutes with a fine header to put the icing on the cake for the home side.
Filed by Rob Wright
