Swiss leave record crowd disappointed

A finals record 5,000 fans turned out for Belarus's UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship debut in Borisov but home hopes were left in tatters as on-song Switzerland swept them aside in their Group A opener.

Baptism of fire
Switzerland were irresistible in the first half at the Gorodskoi Stadium as goals from Danique Stein, Ana Maria Crnogorcevic, Bettina Baer and Jehona Mehmeti – the first three owing much to defensive lapses –silenced the partisan crowd. They were briefly lifted after the restart when substitute Liubou Hudcjanka's exquisite pass teed up Katsiaryna Miklashevich to reduce the arrears, and though they could not mount a comeback Dmitri Shevchuk's charges departed with pride restored.

Records tumble 
Just an hour after the tournament record crowd of 3,500 was broken in Molodechno as 3,850 watched Norway and Iceland share the spoils in Group B, a new mark was set in Borisov. The 5,000 vociferous fans could have been daunting for the visitors, as Switzerland coach Yannick Schwery had warned only 24 hours earlier, but his players displayed few early nerves. Having struck 16 goals in the second qualifying round they picked up where they left off and were ahead on 12 minutes when captain Stein lobbed a fairly innocuous ball into the area that right-back Elvira Urazaeva could only divert into her own net.

Mistakes
The goal was harsh on Belarus, who had made a bright start, but from then on it was all Switzerland until half-time, with forwards Crnogorcevic and Baer causing constant menace, aided and abetted by Mehmeti on the left. Their attacking vim would have its reward. First, on 25 minutes, Crnogorcevic capitalised when goalkeeper Katsiaryna Kavalchuk scrambled from her line to clear outside the area only to miss her attempted clearance, and the Belarus No12 was at fault again four minutes later as she allowed Mehmeti's hopeful long-range effort to creep in.

Consolation
It capped an awful start for Belarus but it was not the end of their first-half nightmare and four minutes before the interval Baer turned in a right-wing cross. Belarus coach Shevchuk brought on Hudcjanka for Valiantsina Nizheharodava and the move swiftly paid dividends as the newcomer took just seven minutes to unpick a hitherto untroubled defence, lone striker Miklashevich the grateful recipient. Belarus pushed on, playing a high line, but Switzerland's points never really looked under threat; the home fans will have to wait for their first win.