Switzerland dramatically came from behind to win their World Cup opener against Ecuador.
Switzerland came from behind to beat Ecuador in dramatic fashion in Brasília. In an entertaining Group E opener Ecuador took the lead only to be pegged back early in the second half, and concede again with just seconds left on the clock.
Ecuador broke the deadlock midway through the first half, when striker Enner Valencia capitalised on being left completely unmarked in the Swiss penalty area by heading a Walter Ayoví free-kick home from point-blank range. The opener came on the back of a decent spell of Swiss possession, though despite Ottmar Hitzfeld's side seeing much of the ball, they couldn't convert it into anything meaningful.
Such a pattern continued through to halftime, with Ecuador keeping Switzerland at bay through a mixture of good defending and equally good fortune. La Nati had a good penalty shout turned down with 10 minutes of the half remaining when the ball struck the arms of a couple of Ecuador defenders in quick succession, before Xherdan Shaqiri and Gökhan Inler both had long-range efforts turned away by goalkeeper Alexander Domínguez. Switzerland were banging on the door heavily, but couldn't break it down.
At halftime Hitzfeld felt a different tool was needed for the task, and threw striker Admir Mehmedi on for winger Valentin Stocker. It was a perfect change from the wily old tactician, and it paid dividends within three minutes of the restart. Ricardo Rodríguez delivered an inch-perfect corner into the Ecuador box, which the newly-introduced Mehmedi powered home to instantaneously even things up.
The equaliser forced Ecuador back onto the front foot again, with Reinaldo Rueda's side pushing higher up the field in a bid to retake the lead. They went close through Enner Valencia just short of the hour, though the goalscorer fired a spectacular attempt from the edge of the area just wide. Jefferson Montero continued to cause problems for Switzerland down the left too, and forced Benaglio into a low stop with just over 20 minutes remaining.
But while Ecuador looked more dangerous from open play, Switzerland's attacking pace meant they were always a threat on the counter-attack. Josip Drmić had a scrappy goal chalked off for offside, shortly before the sub-par Shaqiri lashed the ball into Domínguez's side-netting. Ecuador responded with a free-kick from Michael Arroyo that squirmed through the wall, though an excellent reaction save from Diego Benaglio kept the scores level.
It would prove to be a crucial save, as another of Hitzfeld's substitutes, Haris Seferović, popped up in stoppage time to win the game for La Nati. With the midfield blown wide open Rodríguez found space out left, and delivered an inch-perfect low cross for Seferović to smash home. Harsh on Ecuador, probably, though this World Cup continues to produce pure sporting drama.
Switzerland: Benaglio; Rodríguez, von Bergen, Djourou, Lichtsteiner; Inler, Behrami; Stocker (Mehmedi 46'), Xhaka, Shaqiri; Drmić (Seferović 76).
Goals: Mehmedi (48'), Seferović (90+3').
Ecuador: Domínguez; Ayoví, Erazo, Guagua, Paredes; Montero (Rojas 76'), Noboa, Gruezo, A. Valencia; E. Valencia, Caicedo (Arroyo 70').
Goals: E. Valencia (22').
Post By http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/6/15/5812192/switzerland-ecuador-2014-world-cup-final-score-result
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