Togo 0-2 Switzerland

Frei celebrates Switzerland's opener

Switzerland stepped up their bid for a place in the knock-out stages and ended Togo's campaign thanks to goals from Alexander Frei and Tranquillo Barnetta.

Rennes striker Frei neatly stabbed home the unmarked Barnetta's cross from close-range after 17 minutes.

Togo were denied a decent penalty claim when Emmanuel Adebayor was chopped down and Mohammed Kader twice went close.

But despite a sustained spell of Togo pressure, Barnetta rifled in late on to send the World Cup debutants home.

After the 2-1 defeat to South Korea in their first match, the African side needed to avoid defeat in Dortmund to stand any chance of getting out of the group.

There was even a doubt before the match that the fixture would go ahead after a row over player bonuses in the Togo squad.

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But despite all their off-field problems, Togo began brightly and had good chances to open the scoring.

Adebayor's headed flick fell to Kader whose neat turn failed to receive the finish it deserved and ended up in the hands of Pascal Zuberbuehler.

Kader and strike partner Adebayor continued to cause the Swiss back line problems and Adebayor felt he should have had a penalty when he appeared to be held back when heading towards goal.

But for all the Africans' endeavour in attack, their defensive frailties were soon exposed when poor marking led to Switzerland's opener.

Barnetta found himself with acres of space down the Switzerland right and he volleyed Ludovic Magnan's cross into the box for Frei to turn home from five yards.

Togo's Kader Mohamed reacts to Togo's elimination

Togo failed to wilt under the strain however and hit back with a chance of their own.

An horrific gaffe from the out-of-sorts Arsenal defender Phillipe Senderos handed Thomas Dossevi a free shot on goal, but he blazed his effort wide from close range.

As Togo searched for a way back into the match, they were denied what looked to be a certain penalty by referee Carlos Amarilla.

The Paraguayan official waved away appeals after Adebayor was scythed down by Patrick Muller and Togo would have felt hard done by going into the break a goal down.

The Swiss started the second half with more zest and Barnetta had a half volley acrobatically tipped over by Zuberbuehler while substitute Hakan Yakin sliced a long-range drive just over.

Yakin should have put the Swiss in a commanding position on 64 minutes, but his close-range shot when clean through was well palmed away by Kossi Agassi.

As Togo went in search of the vital equaliser the game became stretched, but they were kept out by a lack of quality in the final third and a resolute rearguard display.

And to compound Togo's misery, Barnetta completed Switzerland's victory with a sweet strike from just inside the penalty area on 88 minutes to send to them top of Group G.

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Togo: Agassa, Nibombe, Tchangai, Toure, Agboh (Salifou 24), Dossevi (Senaya 68), Cherif-Toure (Malm 86), Romao, Forson, Adebayor, Mohamed.
Subs Not Used: Akoto, Atsou, Aziawonou, Erassa, Obilale, Olufade, Tchagnirou, Assemoassa.

Booked: Salifou, Adebayor, Romao.

Switzerland: Zuberbuhler, Muller, Philipp Degen, Senderos, Magnin, Barnetta, Vogel, Wicky, Cabanas (Streller 77), Frei (Lustrinelli 87), Gygax (Yakin 45).
Subs Not Used: Benaglio, Coltorti, David Degen, Djourou, Dzemaili, Grichting, Margairaz, Spycher, Behrami.

Booked: Vogel.

Goals: Frei 17, Barnetta 88.

Att: 65,000

Ref: Carlos Amarilla (Paraguay).

Fifa man of the match: Alex Frei

Togo v Switzerland player ratings

TRIVIA

Alexander Frei's effort was Switzerland's first World Cup goal since Georges Bregy scored in their 4-1 win over Romania at the 1994 World Cup. By netting his 26th international goal, Frei equalled Adrian Knup as Switzerland's fifth all-time top scorer. At the age of 21 years and 28 days, Tranquillo Barnetta became the third youngest goalscorer for his country in World Cup finals.

After failing to keep a clean sheet in their first 22 World Cup matches, Switzerland have now kept two in a row.

Togo have only scored four goals in their nine matches in 2006.

Trivia Stats source: Infostrada Sports