Barnetta goals boost Switzerland

Switzerland 2-1 Netherlands
Tranquillo Barnetta scored twice - the second a fine winning goal - as UEFA EURO 2008™ co-hosts Switzerland defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in a friendly at the Stade de Genève.

Kuyt goal
Ruud van Nistelrooy's first international match in more than a year ended in disappointment as Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfielder Barnetta found the net in the ninth and 51st minutes. Dirk Kuyt reduced the deficit straight after but the Dutch - who resume their qualifying campaign against Bulgaria and Albania next month - were unable to deny Switzerland only a second friendly victory in 2007.

Exiles
In the ninth minute, visiting goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg brought down Johan Vonlanthen in the box and Barnetta opened the scoring from the spot. Van Nistelrooy was back after falling out with coach Marco van Basten following last summer's FIFA World Cup but it was another exiled player, Switzerland's Blaise Nkufo - returning after five years out - who almost got the next goal, his volley just before half-time unlucky not to find the back of the net.

Rising drive
The Netherlands were dominating but could not turn their possession into goals; Wesley Sneijder firing a great chance wide. Barnetta doubled the lead in style, collecting the loose ball before scoring with a rising drive. The Swiss proved true to the old adage of being most vulnerable after scoring as Kuyt - on as a half-time substitute for Van Nistelrooy - pulled a goal back immediately after the restart, heading past Fabio Coltorti after a quick breakaway, but an equaliser proved beyond the visitors.