MATCH REPORT: SWITZERLAND COMES FROM BEHIND TO BEAT ECUADOR 2-1 IN GROUP E ENCOUNTER.

Switzerland came from behind to beat Ecuador 2-1 in the opening game of Group E at this year’s FIFA World Cup .A  48^th minutes equalizer  by Admir Mehmedi and a late winner by Haris Seferovic ensured Ottmar Hitzfeld and his lads secure all three points at stake.

The Venue was the Estadio Nacional,Brasilia. It was all to play for in the opening game of group E between Switzerland and Ecuador. The first time the two sides will be meeting at the World Cup.

A very poised game as both side exhibited some delicate touches in the first 5 minutes. Ecuador looked contented as they moved forward on few occasions.  Switzerland however struggled to keep possession. The vociferous Ecuadorian fan base rallied behind their team.

A well floated ball into the penalty box from Walter Ayovi went straight into the hands of Swiss goalkeeper Diego Benaglio. The first attempt made in the game.  Switzerland had an opportunity in the 12^th  minute after Gokhan Inler sent in a nice through ball to young striker Josip Drmic, but the striker failed to take it first time as the Ecuadorian defence covered their lines. Granit Xhaka first time Volley went wide. A potent strike from Xherdan Shaqiri was timely save by Dominguez in the Ecuadorian post. The Swiss were beginning to look dangerous up front. 

A close game at the early stages of the game was beginning to open up as both teams moved forward on few occasion. In the 19^th minute, an ruthless strike from Swiss left back Ricardo Rodriguez had Dominguez failing to grab it one time.  Ecuador got their tails up in the 22^nd minutes through a brilliant header from Enner Valencia after an excellent delivered free kick by Walter Ayovi from the left side of the penalty box after Jefferson Montero was fouled by Lichtsteiner.

The Swiss despite conceding still showed good signs up front as they kept on dominating possession trying to squeeze their way through the Ecuador defence. A well floated ball from Rodriguez failed to have a touch as no Swiss player could get his head on the ball. A perfect one-two between Valentin Stocker and Lichtsteiner in the 35^th minutes was timely cleared from the defensive area of the Ecuadorians. In the 40^th minutes, Shaqiri had his effort struck the arm of an Ecuador defender but the referee will not take any of that. Gokhan Inler’s teasing strike was tipped away by Ecuador goalkeeper Dominguez.

Switzerland kept on pushing forward as they tried to get many shot on target. A teasing cross from Rodriguez was timely dealt with by Dominguez who had been excellent for the Ecuadorians. In the 43^rd minute Ecuador winger Jefferson Montero had his well taken strike blocked by the Swiss defense after cutting in beautifully. Ecuador seemed to have raised their game at the later stages of the first half.  After a packed action in the first half from both sides, referee blew his whistle to bring the first 45 minutes to an end.

 

Back from recess, Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld brought on forward Admir Mehmedi for Valentin Stocker who had been quiet up front. An ambitious effort from right back Stephan Lichtsteiner was deflected as the ball crossed the line for a corner kick.

Substitute Admir Mehmedi drew Switzerland on level pegging in the 48^th minute when he nodded home a header from Ricardo Rodriguez’s well taken corner kick to change the complexion of the game. Ecuador defender Juan Paredes was penalized and received a booking in the 52^nd minute when he brought down Mehmedi in a counter break. The tempo of the game had risen after the equalizer. Carlos Gruezo’s long range effort went way over the bar. In the 57^th minutes, Mehmedi’s low cross was timely checked by the Ecuadorian defense as they cleared the ball from the danger Zone. Ecuador goal scorer Inner Valencia almost scored his second when he struck the ball and missed the post by inches. Switzerland seemed to be enjoying the good spell of possession after 60 minutes. The fans could not leave themselves out as they enjoyed themselves in the stands displaying the famous Mexican waves.

Ecuador’s Montero who had been brilliant for his side had his effort saved by Swiss goalkeeper Benaglio in the 65^th minutes. The Enterprising winger had caused troubles for the Swiss at the left hand side. In the 69^th minutes Swiss attacker Josip Drmic succeeded in putting the ball at the back of the net but had already been adjudged off side. 

Ecuador coach Reinaldo Rueda made his first substitution bringing on Michael Arroyo for Felipe Caicedo who been a pale shadow of himself. Switzerland failed to capitalize on a break after Shaqiri had his effort shooting side netting. Ecuador nearly got their noses in front when the Swiss goalkeeper failed to hit the ball one time with defender Gelson Fernandes clearing the ball to touch. Otmar Hitzfield brought on Haris Seferovic for Josip Drmic in the 74^th minutes. Rueda also brought on Joao Rojas for enterprising Jefferson Montero. The game became even as both sides went close to score on few occasions. Switzerland dominated possession in the last 10 minutes pressing the Ecuadorians to their own half. Swiss defender Johan Djourou was booked in the 84^th minute when he brought down Rojas.

 

An awkward deflected free kick by Joao Rojas in the 85^th minutes was timely blocked on the line by Benaglio. It looked like the game was driving into a drawn encounter. The 2014 World Cup was about to witness its first draw after four days.

Ecuador failed to capitalize on a glorious opportunity when Michael Arroyo failed to take a onetime shot after a nice lay on pass from Antonio Valencia at the right hand side of attack. Switzerland however probed on the failed opportunity by the Ecuadorians when they broke into a counter attack in the dying embers of the game as a perfect level cross from Rodriguez was met by Seferovic who smashed the ball from close range into the roof of the Ecuadorian post.

From a goal down the Swiss won the game by 2-1 from the final analysis as two substitutes did honest for the Schweizer Nati. Another terrific encounter between a South American team and a European team.

Starting XI for Switzerland: Diego Benaglio, Steve Von Bergen, Johan Djourou, Ricardo Rodriguez, Stephen Lichtsteiner, Granit Xhaka, Gokhan Inler, Valon Behrami, Josip Drmic, Valentina Stocker, Xherdan Shaqiri.

Starting XI for Ecuador: Alexander Dominguez, Jorge Guagua, Frichson Erazo, Walter Ayovi, Juan Paredes, Christian Noboa, Carlos Gruezo, Jefferson Montero, Antonia Valencia, Enner Valencia, Felipe Caicedo.

By Frank Darkwah

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