Making his 64th appearance at the senior international level, Sporting Kansas City defender Nico Hasler helped Liechtenstein to a hard-earned 1-1 home draw versus Armenia on Saturday at Rheinpark Stadion in Vaduz.
Hasler started and logged the full 90 minutes in an advanced midfield position as Liechtenstein claimed a second straight result in Group J of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying. He previously played a leading role in his country's surprise 1-1 stalemate at Greece last month, assisting the late equalizer to give Liechtenstein its first point of the qualification stage.
Armenia drew first blood on Saturday, taking a 1-0 lead through Tigran Barseghyan in the 19th minute. The hosts delivered a spirited performance, however, and their industry was rewarded after 72 minutes when Yanik Frick placed a right-footed shot into the left corner to restore parity and ensure a sharing of the spoils.
Hasler has started all seven matches in Group J thus far, and although his country is mathematically eliminated from advancing to Euro 2020 next summer, Liechtenstein have now secured back-to-back results in competitive fixtures for the first time since 2007. The Blue-Reds have three more Euro qualifiers still to play, one versus Group J leaders and world powerhouse Italy on Tuesday and two next month against Finland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Tuesday's contest between Liechtenstein and Italy will kick off at 1:45 p.m. CT at Rheinpark Stadion with a live stream on ESPN Plus.
As one of the country’s most decorated players this decade, Hasler has scored three goals for the Liechtenstein Men’s National Team since 2010 and was named Liechtensteiner Footballer of the Year in 2015, 2017 and 2018. He has been an integral member of Liechtenstein’s national team since debuting for the senior side in 2010.
Hasler started seven of nine MLS appearances for Sporting this past season, having joined the side in April from the Chicago Fire.
