Rodriguez key at both ends as Switzerland reaches World Cup
Ricardo Rodriguez
BASEL  Switzerland (AP) — Switzerland is going to the World Cup after left-back Ricardo Rodriguez denied Northern Ireland hope in both games of their playoff at either end of the field.
Switzerland needed only a draw Sunday to advance to Russia  and a tense 0-0 result in rain-soaked Basel was preserved by  Rodriguez 's goal-line clearance in stoppage time from Jonny Evans' header.
 Rodriguez  scored that spot kick on Thursday  when Corey Evans was whistled harshly for an incident that few agreed with.
Switzerland's players Valon Behrami  Granit Xhaka and Ricardo Rodriguez  from right  celebrate winning the World Cup play-offs second leg soccer match between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel  Switzerland  Sunday  Nov. 12  2017. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's defender Ricardo Rodriguez clears the ball off the line during the World Cup play-offs second leg soccer match between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel  Switzerland  Sunday  Nov. 12  2017. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)
 Rodriguez  moved across the goalmouth toward the post and hooked the ball clear as  he  fell backward into the goal.
Switzerland's defender Ricardo Rodriguez  center right  saves a ball on the line goal during the World Cup play-offs second leg soccer match between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel  Switzerland  Sunday  Nov. 12  2017. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)
BASEL  Switzerland (AP) — Switzerland is going to the World Cup after left-back Ricardo Rodriguez denied Northern Ireland hope in both games of their playoff at either end of the field.
Switzerland needed only a draw Sunday to advance to Russia  and a tense 0-0 result in rain-soaked Basel was preserved by  [TGT] 's goal-line clearance in stoppage time from Jonny Evans' header.
 [TGT]scored that spot kick on Thursday  when Corey Evans was whistled harshly for an incident that few agreed with.
Switzerland's players Valon Behrami  Granit Xhaka and Ricardo Rodriguez  from right  celebrate winning the World Cup play-offs second leg soccer match between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel  Switzerland  Sunday  Nov. 12  2017. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)
Switzerland's defender Ricardo Rodriguez clears the ball off the line during the World Cup play-offs second leg soccer match between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel  Switzerland  Sunday  Nov. 12  2017. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)
 Rodriguez  moved across the goalmouth toward the post and hooked the ball clear as  he  fell backward into the goal.
Switzerland's defender Ricardo Rodriguez  center right  saves a ball on the line goal during the World Cup play-offs second leg soccer match between Switzerland and Northern Ireland at the St. Jakob-Park stadium in Basel  Switzerland  Sunday  Nov. 12  2017. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)