Fabian Schär’s Switzerland kept themselves in the hunt for European Championships qualification with a 2-0 win at home to the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday night.
Newcastle United centre half Schär started for his country at Geneva’s Stade de Geneve, where Haris Seferovic’s 16th-minute effort gave the hosts the lead against Mick McCarthy’s men, who needed a win to secure qualification.
The 27-year-old – who netted in the reverse fixture between the sides in Dublin earlier this month – then struck the post just after the hour mark, before Ireland were reduced to ten men when Seamus Coleman received his second yellow card.
Ricardo Rodriguez’s missed penalty didn’t hinder the home side, who sealed the points thanks to Shane Duffy’s late own goal.
The clean sheet and three points keeps Switzerland in with a shout of qualification for next summer’s finals, leaving them one point behind leaders Ireland in qualifying Group D.
Emil Krafth’s Sweden were also in action on Tuesday, holding Spain to a 1-1 draw at the Friends Arena in Stockholm.
The United full back was an unused substitute, as the hosts’ opponents sealed the point they needed to make sure of qualification.
Another Magpies defender, DeAndre Yedlin, endured an outing to forget in the CONCACAF Nations League as his USA team were beaten 2-0 by Canada.
Alphonso Davies and Lucas Cavallini scored the goals at the BMO Field in Toronto, with Yedlin starting for Gregg Berhalter’s men before he was replaced by Nick Lima with just under 20 minutes remaining.