Switzerland establish sizeable lead over Sweden

Switzerland have one foot in the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals after a play-off first-leg victory which could have turned out differently had Denni Avdic not wasted a penalty for Sweden.

The home side were two goals up inside 20 minutes in Sion thanks to efforts from Fabian Frei and Xavier Hochstrasser. Guillermo Molins reduced Swedish arrears five minutes into the second half and though Admir Mehmedi restored the two-goal lead moments later, the match – and perhaps the tie – swung significantly in Switzerland's favour when Yann Sommer saved Avdic's 73rd-minute spot kick.

Substitute Pajtim Kasami made the visitors pay with a decisive fourth late on, leaving Jörgen Lennartsson's side with it all to do in Monday's return in Malmo.

Frei gave Switzerland the perfect start when he rose to head in Frank Feltscher's right-wing cross after two minutes. Just like he was for the opener, goalkeeper Kristoffer Nordfeldt was powerless to prevent the hosts doubling their advantage, the influential Hochstrasser leaving the Sweden No1 helpless with a 20-metre shot into the top corner.

Sommer made the first of two critical interventions against Avdic when, six minutes before the break, he expertly kept out a header from the IF Elfsborg player. Sweden lost Agon Mehmeti to injury on the cusp of half-time and it was his replacement, Molins, who halved the deficit by turning in Jiloan Hamad's low centre from close range.

No sooner had Sweden earned their lifeline, they slipped two behind again: the away team failed to clear Daniel Pavlovic's cross and Mehmedi made no mistake. Avdic was then frustrated by Sommer from the spot having been fouled by Fabio Daprelà; which profligacy Kasami punished by pouncing on the rebound after Mehmedi had been denied by Nordfeldt.