Striker's Success - Goal in European Championship Debut

He was an unexpected name in the starting eleven. Then the European Championship debutant Kwadwo Duah succeeded for Switzerland. He scored the first goal in the 3–1 win against Hungary.

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Striker's Success - Goal in European Championship Debut
Photo: Darko Vojinovic/AP/TT

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He was an unexpected name in the starting eleven.

Then European Championship debutant Kwadwo Duah succeeded for Switzerland.

He set the first goal in the 3–1 victory over Hungary.

The 27-year-old's national team experience is easy to summarise.

+ The first call-up came when the squad gathered for the European Championship in Germany.

+ The striker got 45 minutes in a friendly match against Estonia and then watched the rehearsal against Austria from the bench.

Early goal by Duah

Therefore, Kwadwo Duah – who normally plays for Bulgarian Ludogorets – was an unexpected name in the starting eleven that national team captain Murat Yakin put together for the premiere against Hungary in Cologne.

Then he made an equally unexpected success.

Already in the 12th minute, Duah went deep, got the ball from Michel Aebischer and set 1–0.

In the end of the half, Switzerland, which is in its sixth consecutive championship, increased the lead – and then it was Aebischer who finished.

The 27-year-old placed nicely behind goalkeeper Peter Gulasci for 2–0.

Then the match was under Swiss control.

I'm very proud that we won the match. It was a good first half and a slightly harder second, but I think we deserve three points, says team captain Granit Xhaka in TV4 Play's broadcast.

Varga equalised

After just over an hour of play, the situation was different.

Barnabás Varga threw himself forward, got his head on the ball and nodded in the equaliser in the 66th minute.

But Switzerland withstood Hungary's forcing and in stoppage time, Breel Embolo lifted in the 3–1 goal that secured three points.

It's always good to start like this, and I'm glad we take three points against a good opponent. But we're not done yet. Now we'll recover and go for the next one, says Xhaka.

On Wednesday, Switzerland awaits a match against Scotland, and Hungary faces the home nation Germany.

With the victory, the Swiss are second in Group A, after leaders Germany, who on Friday got a 4–1 win over Scotland.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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