UEFA Under-21 Championship Group 4: The Republic of Ireland suffered their worst result for two years on a bitter-sweet night for Stephen Elliott.
Sunderland striker Elliott struck his sixth goal on his 10th appearance at this level to become the under-21s all-time leading scorer, breaking a four-way tie with Andy Reid, Mark Kennedy and Graham Barrett.
But it was too little too late for manager Don Givens's side, who were found wanting after dismantling Cyprus 3-0 in their opening European Championship qualifying game on Friday.
Ireland never recovered after going behind in the fourth minute, with a mistake from goalkeeper Wayne Henderson setting the tone for a hapless night which concluded with an own goal from Paddy McCarthy, so ending their 13-match unbeaten run.
Henderson, replacing Swansea's Brian Murphy, was caught out as he came to meet a cross from Alain Rochat. The goalkeeper fell woefully short, allowing Stefan Lichtsteiner to head into an empty net.
Ireland posed little by way of an attacking threat throughout the opening 45 minutes, with their only chance a searing 25-yard drive from Elliott six minutes from the break which was superbly touched over by Diego Benaglio.
But after scoring inside the opening four minutes of the first half, Switzerland duly repeated the trick at the start of the second, with a quick free-kick from Rochat played into Xavier Margairaz to slot past Henderson after holding off Blackburn's John Fitzgerald. Six minutes later and the game was effectively over as Margairaz sent Henderson the wrong way from close range.
Elliott rammed home a spilled shot from Benaglio just after the hour for his place in the record books but salt was rubbed in the wounds in the 80th minute when Manchester City's McCarthy steered the ball into the roof of his own net. Aiden McGeady's scored a penalty six minutes later.
SWITZERLAND U21: Benaglio, Lichsteiner, Rochat, Von Bergen, Senderos, Shala, Calla (Zambrella 84), Kulaksizoglu, David Degen (Webber 90), Margairaz, Ziegler (Dzemaili 69). Subs Not Used: Leoni, Marazzi, Bunjaku, Maric. Goals: Lichsteiner 4, Margairaz 49, 56, McCarthy 80 og.
REP OF IRELAND U21: Henderson, Kelly, Capper (Thornton 78), Fitzgerald, McCarthy, Whelan, McGeady, Potter, Elliott, Doyle (Tabb 55), Kearney (Flood 60). Subs Not Used: Foley, Brian Murphy, McStay, Daryl Murphy. Booked: Thornton. Goals: Elliott 63, McGeady 86 pen.
Referee: Andrejs Sipailo (Latvia).
