Swiss storm into last-four

Swiss storm into last-four
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First-timers Switzerland booked their place in the semi-finals of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Nigeria 2009 with an eventful 2-1 win over the Italians in Ijebu-Ode. Despite going a man down in the second half, the Swiss were the better side on the day and will now take on Colombia - who beat Turkey in their quarter-final in Bauchi - in the final four.

The Italians began the match looking dangerous, with some fine wing play resulting in sharp crosses that the strikers just could not quite steer into the net. It took the Swiss 15 minutes to carve out their first chance of the opening period, Nassim Ben Khalifa hammering a long-range shot just over the bar. Five minutes later they signalled their intent once again when Roman Buess fired into Mattia Perin's mid-section, but the Italian goalkeeper smothered the try at the second attempt.

The Swiss were very much in the ascendancy, and in the 24th minute they were rewarded for their incisive attacking play. A fine run and cross from the left side by Ricardo Rodriguez was expertly volleyed home by Ben Khalifa, for his third goal of the finals. Italian keeper Perin got a hand to the effort, but he could not keep it from bouncing in off the post.

The Italians' response came in the 32nd minute when Federico Carraro's elegant free-kick curled up and over the Swiss wall and dipped into the lower corner of the net to level the scores at 1-1. Ben Khalifa had a glorious chance to put the Swiss back in front with two minutes to go in the half, but the usually clinical striker somehow conspired to push his point-blank shot wide of the target.

Italy came out flying a