In an emphatic way, Xherdan Shaqiri scored a last-minute winner to provide Switzerland a slender of a chance in the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2018 after a 2-1 victory over Serbia.
Serbia bossed the first half of their clash with Switzerland but were pegged back by fine efforts from Granit Xhaka and Shaqiri.
The Stoke City forward kept his cool to put the finishing touch on a brilliant second-half fightback. Vladimir Petkovic’s side began when Xhaka scored a thunderous equaliser, early in the second half.
Arsenal midfielder Xhaka defied Switzerland’s reputation as a side lacking in attacking. He rattled the ball into the net from 25 yards. Moreover, the prolific footballer pulled his team back into a game that had threatened to get away.
Aleksandar Mitrovic wreaked havoc in Switzerland’s box throughout the first half, scoring the second opportunity presented to him. But their early energy and poise faded and the defeat leaves Mladen Krstajic’s team heading into their last Group E game against Brazil. They have to win if they want to guarantee a spot in the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, Switzerland will meet already-eliminated Costa Rica. The way they have had improved throughout the course of this game, will give their Bosnian coach every confidence.
They have to secure a point to be sure of a place in the knockout stages for the second consecutive World Cup.
In addition, Switzerland were fortunate enough to go in only 1-0 down at half-time. Having looked tentative in the final third game, Switzerland were struggling but after 52 minutes when Shaqiri’s shot rebounded back to Xhaka. And, the midfielder let fly from 25 yards, bulging the far corner of the net with a curling drive.
Xherdan Shaqiri hit the frame of the goal with a bending effort of his own. And, in the final minute of normal time, Mario Gavranovic played a superb through-ball to Shaqiri.
Shaqiri outpaced Zoran Tosic and nutmegged Vladimir Stojkovic with a low finish that sent the Swiss fans wild and allowed his country to dream of the knockout phase.
FT: Serbia 1-2 Switzerland
Mitrovic 5′ | Xhaka 52′ | Shaqiri 90′