Hungary 1-3 Switzerland: Aebischer stars as Embolo seals Swiss victory

Switzerland withstood a revitalised second half display from Hungary to kickstart their Euro 2024 campaign with a 3-1 win in Cologne.

Substitute Breel Embolo put the match to bed with a neat finish late on, after Barnabas Varga had dragged Hungary back into it.

Michel Aebischer starred for the Swiss in a dominant first-half display, teeing up Kwadwo Duah’s opener with a brilliant throughball, before he curled a fine effort into the bottom corner.

Duah’s first international goal was originally disallowed for offside, but a VAR review saw it given.

But with little to lose, Hungary emerged from the tunnel with the bit between their teeth. Varga, who scored 20 goals for Ferencvarosi this season, squandered a golden opportunity to half the deficit as he headed wide Roland Sallai’s teasing delivery.

Vargas atoned for his miss three minutes later, though stooping low at the back post to guide Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross beyond the grasp of Yann Sommer.

Hungary looked the most likely to grab the game’s next goal, yet three minutes into stoppage time, Embolo – who has endured an injury-hit campaign – pounced on a defensive error to loft home a finish and ensure Switzerland joined Germany on three points in Group A.

22 -There were 22 passes in the build up to Switzerland’s opener scored by Kwadwo Duah, the third longest passing sequence leading to a goal at the EUROs on record (since 1980). Construction. pic.twitter.com/99MfZ32KuP

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) June 15, 2024

Data Debrief: Aebischer leads the way as Hungary’s Swiss hoodoo rolls on

Aebischer’s influential display saw him become the first Swiss player to have both scored and set up a goal in a single Euros match.

Switzerland continued their excellent record against Hungary and have now won seven of their last 10 matches against them (D2 L1), last tasting defeat in November 1998.