Cyprus - 1 Switzerland - 3: Switzerland beat Cyprus 3-1 in Nicosia last night to stay firmly on course for a place in the 2006 World Cup finals.
The Swiss stayed top equal with France, 1-0 winners against Ireland in Dublin, in the tight Group Four standings, both with 16 points from eight games.
Switzerland went ahead in the 15th minute when goalkeeper Michalis Morfis parried a shot from Alexander Frei but the striker pounced to score from the rebound.
Cyprus scored a surprise equaliser 20 minutes later when Swiss goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuehler misjudged a long, high ball at the edge of the box and Georgios Aloneftis had an easy job in front of an empty net.
Defender Philippe Senderos put the Swiss ahead again with a stroke of luck in the 69th minute when his cross from the right was deflected into the net by Konstantinos Charalambides.
Daniel Gygax sealed the win six minutes from time with a header after a cross from the left.
CYPRUS: Morfis, Elias, Okkarides (Lambrou 46), Louka, Aloneftis, Krassias (Nikolaou 64), Okkas, Charalambidis, Micheal Constantinou, Michael (Yiasoumi 82), Elia. Subs Not Used: Giorgallidi, Georgiou, Maragkos, Garpozis. Booked: Okkarides, Elia, Elias. Goals: Aloneftis 35.
SWITZERLAND: Zuberbuhler, Vogel, Wicky, Frei (Yakin 73), Barnetta (Huggel 89), Spycher, Muller, Gygax, Vonlanthen (Lustrinelli 83), Senderos, Degen. Subs Not Used: Coltorti, Magnin, Lichsteiner, Smiljanic. Booked: Wicky, Frei. Goals: Frei 15, Senderos 70, Gygax 84.
Attendance: 3,000.
Referee: Nikolai Ivanov (Russia).
