Late drama ensured that Switzerland got the perfect start to Group E as substitutions played a key role in their comeback win against Ecuador.
Both sides were keen to get off to a positive start in the group that includes France, who are clear favourites, but is very open for any of the other teams to progress into the round of 16 with Les Blues.
Despite the lack of Chelsea representation in either lineup, there was still an array of talent and big names on show such as Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri and the talented Enner Valencia, who bagged himself a goal in a pre-tournament friendly against England in Miami. Manchester United’s Antonio Valencia also started for Ecuador, but failed to make much of an impact in the game.
The group E opener started off slowly, with many stray and disjointed passes on show as both teams adapted to the early afternoon Brazilian warmth.
However, in the 22nd minute, Walter Ayovi swung across a wicked freekick from the left and poor Swiss marking left Enner Valencia completely free in the area as he tucked away the first goal of group E and gave Ecuador a surprise lead. Switzerland were unhappy with the position from which the freekick was taken as the ball was, albeit by a matter of inches, not inside the circle marked out by the referee’s now infamous ‘magic foam’.
Switzerland had a penalty shout on 34 minutes when Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri’s shot appeared to strike an Ecuadorian arm, but the referee deemed the defender’s arms to be close enough to the body for play to be waved on.
From then, the Swiss grew into the game as it progressed. Napoli’s Gokhan Inler forced a decent fingertip stop from Dominiguez on the stretch from distance. Despite their slight increase in dominance, Switzerland didn’t look like troubling Ecuador as half time approached.
At half time, Switzerland were behind, somewhat surprisingly, to a set piece; something they did not concede at all during qualifying for the world’s greatest competition. They also didn’t look likely to break the trend of never beating a South American team during the World Cup finals.
The Reds brought on Admir Mehmedi at the beginning of the second half as they looked to get behind the Ecuadorian defence more often and find a way back into their opening game of the competition.
And, as so often happens, he had an instantaneous effect as the SC Freiburg forward got to the near post from a corner and powered his header home, just three minutes after coming on. In doing so, he bagged hs second international goal just minutes into his World Cup debut.
Despite Switzerland enjoying the better opening 15 minutes of the second half, Enner Valencia came within inches of doubling his tally for the day as he fired just over after evading Swiss challenges on the edge of the area.
Switzerland were frustrated 10 minutes later when Josip Drmic had the ball in the back of the net only for the linesman to raise his flag. Replays show that the goal should have stood as Drmic was onside–yet another controversial decision in the opening days of this World Cup.
The large majority of the second half somewhat dwindled out until the final minute of stoppage time, when Switzerland won it in the most dramtic fashion. Valon Behrami made a goal saving challenge before setting away a Swiss counter attack, which resulted in substitute Haris Seferovic firing away at the near post from a low cross. Switzerland stole all three points at the very last second.
Many will say the conclusion was harsh on Ecuador who were the better side for parts of the game, but ultimately the 20 places between the sides in the FIFA World rankings showed as the Swiss took the first win of Group E. The late goal also meant we are still waiting for the first draw of the World Cup 2014.
Group E continues this evening as France face Honduras, with the former the firm favourites for that one.
