Switzerland and Australia end World Cup preparations with 1-1 draw

[p]The Rossocrociati’s own build-up to a sixth consecutive finals appearance had been turbulent to say the least after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/embolo-breel/CpKkPKuP/"]Breel Embolo[/a]’s delayed entry into the United States, as Murat Yakin’s side lined up without their star striker in San Diego. But after an early scare created by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/irankunda-nestor/OdWRR5EU/"]Nestory Irankunda[/a]’s corner, the Swiss soon settled into their stride.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ndoye-dan/EmmpFCXN/"]Dan Ndoye[/a] broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, latching onto [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xhaka-granit/QBHCDKff/"]Granit Xhaka[/a]’s wonderful arching through ball by opening up his body and applying a clinical close-range finish past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beach-patrick/d6MmYtl5/"]Patrick Beach[/a]. [/b][/p][p]That goal set the tone for the remainder of the half, with the Socceroos left to chase shadows underneath the Californian sunshine. However, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/volpato-cristian/2B5YqXFG/"]Cristian Volpato[/a]’s searching in-swinging free-kick did pick out [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/souttar-harry/Aw73uj0d/"]Harry Souttar[/a], who headed wide at the far post after some fine defending by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/widmer-silvan/rZFtbGem/"]Silvan Widmer[/a].[/p][p]There was still time for one more chance for Ndoye before half-time, but Beach was out quickly to thwart the Nottingham Forest forward.[/p][p]Australia began the second half with renewed vigour, and almost restored parity in emphatic style when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kobel-gregor/xlBg2ttC/"]Gregor Kobel[/a] pushed Irankunda’s ferocious long-range strike onto the crossbar.[/p][p][b]Tony Popovic’s side were rewarded for their fast start with a deserved equaliser, as substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/metcalfe-connor/zqXaHPUa/"]Connor Metcalfe[/a] squared the ball into the path of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/yengi-tete/YTFoCLya/"]Tete Yengi[/a] to slot home on his Socceroos debut, exploiting some sloppy Swiss defending.[/b][/p][embed guid="8c58396b-2640-4b1d-a138-d8375d6050c7" url="https://x.com/Socceroos/status/2063358711289246081" social-type="twitter" /][p]Yakin’s team were knocking on the door in pursuit of a potentially decisive second goal, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/itten-cedric/SC0MTrRg/"]Cedric Itten[/a] would have been disappointed to see his header graze the roof of the net after meeting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/muheim-miro/bympdcHJ/"]Miro Muheim[/a]’s cross.[/p][p]Despite looking the more likely to secure victory late on, the Rossocrociati were ultimately held to a draw in a productive workout for both sides, leaving each with plenty still to build on.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ndoye-dan/EmmpFCXN/"]Dan Ndoye[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/australia-xSrf6qMM/switzerland-rHJ2vy1B/?mid=ruc3zsQH"]Click here for more on the match[/a][/b][/p]