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Published: Thursday April 2, 2009 MYT 7:38:00 AM
Updated: Thursday April 2, 2009 MYT 10:18:09 AM

Switzerland beats Moldova 2-0

GENEVA (AP): Switzerland won its fourth straight World Cup qualifying match Wednesday, beating Moldova 2-0.

Blaise Nkufo scored in the first half and Alexander Frei added another early in the second. The Swiss beat Moldova by the same score in Chisinau on Saturday.

"I said at halftime that we must go back out and play with the same tempo to look for another goal," Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said. "I'm very pleased with the two strikers. They are playing in perfect harmony."

Switzerland has 13 points from six matches in Group 2 and has recovered its poise since a 2-1 loss to Luxembourg at home last September.

The Swiss started the match positively at the Stade de Geneve and looked to exploit Moldova's defensive weakness in the air.

Nkufo brought goalkeeper Stanislav Namasco into early action with a save from a header. He then beat Namasco with a powerful header from Stephan Lichtsteiner's cross in the 20th minute.

Swiss claims for a penalty three minutes into the second half were rejected after Victor Golovatenco slid in to charge down Nkufo's shot with his arms raised.

The second goal arrived in the 53rd minute when Benjamin Huggel's mis-hit shot found Frei unmarked at the far post. It was Frei's 39th international goal in his 67th game and extended his national team scoring record.

Moldova came closest to scoring in the 77th when Serghei Alexeev's free kick from the left wing deflected off the Swiss defensive wall and was clawed away by Diego Benaglio at his near post.

The only black mark for Switzerland was a booking for Lichtsteiner for handball. That earned the Lazio defender a one-match suspension which will rule him out of the showdown at home against group leader Greece on Sept. 5. The Greeks beat Israel 2-1 on Wednesday.

Lineups:

Switzerland: Diego Benaglio, Stephan Lichtsteiner, Philippe Senderos, Stephane Grichting, Ludovic Magnin, Marco Padalino (Almen Abdi, 86), Benjamin Huggel (Blerim Dzemaili, 72), Gokhan Inler, Tranquillo Barnetta, Alexander Frei, Blaise Nkufo (Eren Derdiyok, 84).

Moldova: Stanislav Namasco, Victor Bulat, Alexei Savinov, Serghei Lascencov, Victor Golovatenco, Denis Calincov (Valeriu Andronic, 67), Alexandru Onica, Eugen Cebotaru, Vitalie Manaliu (Igor Tigirlas, 79), Igor Bugaiov, Alexandru Gatcan (Serghei Alexeev, 57).

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