Switzerland Stuns Ecuador with 2-1 Win

This was a game that was expected to be close and tight. And close and tight it was as the Switzerland and Ecuador game could only be settled by an additional time goal from substitute Seferov in an impressive comeback story.

But one would be forgiven for thinking the defensive capabilities would have produced a boring game.

The two sides started the game relying on their attacking instincts despite both teams having a good defensive backline in previous FIFA World Cup tournments.

The first ten minutes of the game was an end to end attacking football of who wanted it more. Ecuador did, or at least had the better of the chances pushing the Switzerland adversaries to do more defending than attacking.

But the quick counter attacks from Ottmar Hitzfeld’s men were dangerous. Quickly reaching the opposition half of the park to put in decent chances at goal.

Ecuador grew more into the game as the time went by. Switzerland had to rely on long balls as they struggled to give decent complete passes of the ball.

But they could have taken the lead against the run of play. Behrami’s through ball found Xhaka alone on goal but failed to react quickly to put in his shot as Ecuador goalkeeper Dominguez run out to claim the ball.

Shaqri also followed that with a long range shot which also went wide off the post.

Ecuador had to react to the small pressure posed by Switzerland and a good reaction they gave. A corner kick was floated into the Switzerland penalty box. Enner Valencia outmuscled his marker to put a header that Benagi’s dive couldn’t prevent from going into the Switzerland net.

Ecuador had taken the lead.
Switzerland weren’t downed by the goal but rather ignited the attacking potency. They pressed high in the final third of the pitch causing a series of problems for the Ecuador defence.

Ecuador took charge of possession again, appealed for a penalty kick before going into the first half interval with a 1-0 lead.

Switzerland resumed the second half with a bang, scoring their equalizer after just three minutes of play.

Lichtst long range shot was slightly blocked by an Ecuador defender to put it out for a corner. Substitute Mehmedi rose to put the Swiss level on goals with Ecuador after captain Antonio Valencia had missed the header in front of him.

Game on now. Attack upon attacks. Shots at goals and more. It was a true FIFA World Cup game. Switzerland got closest of the chances to go ahead in the game from there on. Ecuador got close at some points.

A Switzerland goal was chopped off for an offside decision as Drmic was inches behind the the Ecuador backline when the ball came in for his conversion.

A defensive blunder moments after from former Arsenal player Djourou and his goalker Benagl could have put Ecuador ahead but the situated was remedied by a defensive clearance.

The game was end to end good football display and deserved a winner. The winners on the day turned out to be Switzerland as a late goal a minute from the final whistle did the job for Ottmar Hitzfeld and his troops.

The painful irony was, the goal resulted from a quick counter after Ecuador had missed a blatant chance to take the lead and most probably win the game.

The fans at the stadium got a show worth the moneys they paid. Television viewers got an entertainment worth their viewing time spent. In the end, the results was refreshingly ecstatic for Switzerland: Switzerland 2-1 Ecuador.

SOURCE: Allsports