The Republic of Ireland's miserable European Championship qualifying campaign continued with a defeat that saw Switzerland book their place in the play-offs.
Ireland were already out of contention for a spot in the finals in Denmark next summer and they were left rooted to the foot of Group Two by Fabian Frei's 48th-minute goal.
The visitors began the game brightly with Anthony Stokes and Alan Judge both testing goalkeeper Yann Sommer but their early promise fizzled out.
Stokes had the first chance after seven minutes, cutting inside and forcing a good save from Swiss captain Sommer, who then brilliantly kept out Judge's effort.
The openings continued as lively wideman Judge hit the side-netting before Conor Hourihane fired across goal after he had been played in by Stokes.
But Ireland had failed to take advantage of their early dominance and in the 18th minute goalkeeper Stephen Henderson needed to produce a superb block to keep out Timm Klose's shot.
Ireland captain Eddie Nolan should have opened the scoring nine minutes before half-time but headed Judge's corner wide while Stokes ended the half by shooting over and then seeing another effort saved by Sommer.
The start of the second half brought the only goal of the match when Frei curled a lovely effort past the outstretched arm of Henderson.
Clear-cut chances were proving hard to come by and, in a rare opening, Judge could only shoot over the bar while under pressure.
Switzerland almost doubled their lead in the 72nd minute as Sebastien Wuthrich's free-kick took a wicked deflection but Henderson managed to scramble across his line and push the ball behind for a corner.
With new Republic Under-21 boss Noel King away with the women's Under-17 team, Football Association of Ireland international high performance director Wim Koevermans took charge of the team.
He introduced Joe Mason and Adam Rooney to bolster the attack but the visitors simply could not find the breakthrough.
