SUI 2:1 ECU | Switzerland - Ecuador (FIFA World Cup)

FIFA World Cup

England – Italy	1:2 (end)	\|	Ivory Coast – Japan	2:1 (end)	\|	Switzerland – Ecuador	2:1 (end)
France – Honduras	3:0 (end)

final

Switzerland

2:1 (0:1)

Ecuador

Sunday 15.06.2014, 18:00 • Estadio Nacional Brasilia, Brasilia • FIFA World Cup

		That's it for the game, Switzerland walk off with three points, while Ecuador get nothing out of it. Thank you for following the match with us, we have the others covered as well, so sit back and enjoy the evening. Until next time, goodbye! (19:56:24)
		The match is over – Switzerland with two goals in the second half win the game stunning Ecuador who believed until the very end that they could save at least a point. They made a mistake of closing the game too early and didn't use the full potential of their bench, leaving one substitution unused. Switzerland, on the other hand, see Hitzfeld doing the right substitutions bringing in Mehmedi and Seferovic who both scored – the first the equalizer and the latter the winner.
		Game over.
	90+3	Goal for Switzerland! A quick counter over the middle, the ball gets to Rodriguez on the left flank, he slides the low cross in that finds Seferovic who tips the the ball high below the bar for the win. Unbeliveable end to the game!
	90+3	A huge opportunity for Ecuador as they send a low cross in from the right, but wait too long before taking the shot and Switzerland take the ball away.
	90+1	Paredes gets some inspiration to try on his own through the middle, darts past one midfielder, but not the defense and Switzerland take over.
	90+3	There will be 3 minutes added to the match. Can we get a winner?
	90	We're down to the final minute of the match, before the stoppage.
	88	Enner Valencia lays the ball back for Antonio on the right, he floats the cross in looking for Rojas to smash the header, but he gets left a few centimeters too short.
	86	A direct strike with the ball undecisive to take the right direction which fools the keeper, but he somehow manages to keep his head cool and deflect it out to the right.
	85	Another free kick for Ecuador as Djourou obstructs the midfielder looking for some space in the middle. 30 meters away.
	84	Djourou (SUI) fouls Ayovi who was going to find some space and burst alone with the keeper, but was obstructed for a foul.
	84	Seferovic on the right looks for Inler with a float, he heads it forward to the middle, but only to meet Guagua who could direct it out.
	82	Shaqiri fouls Antonio Valencia in midfield as Ecuador want to go on the counter after a sloppy free kick.
	81	A free kick for Switzerland in a very dangerous position, 25 meters away slightly to the left. What can they make of it?
	79	Switzerland leading patient attacks down the pitch, but can't threaten Dominguez in net, the game has calmed, seems like both teams could settle for the draw although Ecuador are defending more.
	78	Today's attendance is 68351.
	77	Ecuador substitution: Montero is replaced by Rojas.
	76	Ecuador tries another long ball forward intended for Antonio Valencia – too quick.
	75	Switzerland substitution: Drmic is replaced by Seferovic.
	73	Another huge opportunity for Switzerland as Shaqiri vanishes behind the defense but gets closed down in the end and shoots the outter net.
	71	Ecuador substitution: Caicedo is replaced by Arroyo.
	70	Switzerland score but they get waved off for offside.
	69	Ecuador again on the attack, the cross in from the left finds no one and Switzerland will take the chance to get forward.
	67	Switzerland try something overlapping the sides of attack, now they're on the right, but the cross gets stopped by Erazo and in the end collected by Dominguez.
	66	Benaglio saves the day as Jefferson Montero jolts in from the left and tries to find space for the ball, the Swiss keeper makes the legs' save.
	65	Rodriguez (SUI) tries to catch the through ball in on the left of the box, a fine slide by Guagua who didn't touch it and that will be a goal kick to Dominguez.
	64	Ecuador going forward after a throw in from the right – Antonio Valencia is marked by von Bergen who successfully closes him down and leaves the ball slip over the line.
	63	Another pacy ball, uncatchable for Drmic. Neither team showing sign of incoming changes although Ecuador could freshen up in the middle.
	62	A through ball forward intended for Drmic on the left flank – a bit too quick for the young, talented striker.
	60	A fine try by Enner Valencia – he takes the ball on the left flank, runs through to the edge of the area and delivers a shot from 16 meters away, just over the bar!
	59	Neither team controlling possession in the last two minutes as they both exchange the long balls forward.
	57	Gruezo tries his luck from outside – way over the bar.
	56	Switzerland going forward, but they commit a foul and Ecuador will get another chance.
	55	Mehmedi with a solo effort over the middle, but can't find any space in front and they lose possession.
	54	Valencia Antonio takes the ball towards the edge of the area, gets stopped by the defense which clear over the halfway line.
	53	Paredes (ECU) gets booked the first in the match for his tackle on Mehmedi.
	52	A floating cross taken in, wiggled to the left edge of the area with a header from the opposite but in the end it's over the bar.
	51	Montero gets tackled in the dangerous zone on the left – simmilar spot from where they've scored in the first half.
	49	Inler now tries his luck from outside, misses wide to the right. Switzerland have taken the initiative.
	48	Goal for Switzerland! Rodriguez strikes the corner from the right directly into the five-metre area and MEHMEDI, who's just stepped in, slides a header in.
	47	Right at the start Lichtsteiner tries his luck from the edge of the area, the shot deflects wide but very close.
	46	Switzerland kicks off the second half, now them attacking right-left and will immediately go down the pitch but lose the ball in the final third.
	46	Start of 2nd half.
	45	Switzerland substitution: Stocker is replaced by Mehmedi.
		Second half starts at approx. 19:02 CET, 13:02 EDT, 14:02 local time in Brazil.
		The referee blows his whistle for halftime – neither team got the edge during the first half, they were playing very open football with both teams attacking. Switzerland had their flashes and could have come to the equalizer but Ecuador so far play really bravely. Ecuador managed to break the score through Enner Valencia after a nice cross from the left in the 22nd minute.
	45+1	1st halftime finished.
	45+1	A corner kick to Ecuador on the left – taken short by Antonio Valencia, the ball comes to Ayovi in the middle, but he shoots it too high, too wide.
	45+1	There will be one minute of stoppage time.
	45	Caicedo in the box with the ball with support from Gruezo, falls down in a scramble, no sign of a penalty.
	44	Caicedo from the middle before the area gets the feed to Montero who makes the run by the line and getting into the middle shoots into the block.
	42	Ecuador finally making an appearance over the halfway line, though following the throw in just kick the ball out too quick.
	41	A free kick from the right for Shaqiri – too high and too quick, vanishes over the line wide to the left.
	40	Rodriguez (SUI) finds some space to take the cross from the left – it proves to go dangerously towards the net but Dominguez stays focused to punch it before the goal line. Ecuador have closed a bit, Switzerland taking the initiative during the last five or so minutes.
	39	But he floats this one too high and too powerful so it goes out on the left.
	38	Another shot from wide out – another one blocked that will get Shaqiri another chancce from the corner.
	37	Another one taken by Shaqiri short and then again sends the floating through cross for two onrunning attackers, but neither can get the head on it.
	36	A dangerous opportunity as Inler strikes the ball towards the goal from wide, Dominguez gets the tip of his fingers on it forcing the corner.
	36	Paredes makes a fine effort coming from behind on the right flank, but can't get through three defenders in front.
	35	Shaqiri takes the shot from the edge of the area that gets blocked and protests it was the illegal use of hands, but the referee waves it off.
	34	Shaqiri taking the corner in from the right looking for Behrami on the right – his header smashed into the ground sees Dominguez making an easy save.
	33	Lichtsteiner gets in and receives a pass from just outside, couldn't calm the ball and there goes another corner.
	32	A corner for the Swiss from the left taken into the area on the penalty spot, but couldn't find a header.
	31	A cross from Caicedo on the right, playing outside of his usual spot, more as a midfielder or winger, but it goes straight into the hands of Benaglio.
	29	Enner Valencia is offside and gets flagged on the left as he tries to vanish behind the defense in search of open space.
	28	Stocker sends the cross in from the right corner – but the ball goes out by the post.
	27	The Swiss are building from the ground up finding it hard to break through the high pressure from the South American team. Ecuador have come here for the win and they're not afraid to show it.
	26	Shaqiri takes the corner short and plays a combination with Lichtsteiner which ends with a Shaqiri's cross into the hands of Dominguez.
	25	The Swiss strike back as they have a go from the middle, deflected off the defense into the corner kick.
	24	Another great solo effort by Montero on the left, but he couldn't sneak the ball past two defenders.
	22	Goal for Ecuador! A fine floating cross from the left by Ayovi who finds ENNER VALENCIA sneaking past the back line and heading the falling ball past Benaglio.
	21	Ecuador have established another attack in the Swiss half and now Montero has managed to draw a free kick from the left of the penalty area.
	19	The game has opened completely! Rodriguez (SUI) takes the ball over the left alley and fires one up for Dominguez to make the save but take the ball into the corner.
	18	A good run through the middle from Montero leading the counter and getting the feed to Noboa at the edge of the area, but his shot gets blocked in the waning moments and punched by Benaglio.
	16	Shaqiri tries his luck from outside, maybe 20 meters away, finding some space and taking a left-legged shot, only straight into the keeper.
	14	Lately, we're watching open football, both teams going on the attack as the Swiss have finally stepped in.
	12	A fine feed through the middle for Drmic who vanishes behind the line and into the area on the left edge, but Guagua makes it in time and slides to prevent the ball from going near Dominguez.
	11	Lichtsteiner gets the ball in from the throw, Gruezo commits a foul on Behrami and the ball will stay in Swiss possession.
	10	Lately, both teams have tried floating the feeds from the midfield, but all put too much into the pass and the attackers can't make the run for it.
	9	Behrami tries to feed in for incoming Drmic in the middle, but puts too much power on the ball as it slides out past the goal.
	8	Lichtsteiner in midfield trying to float the pass to Drmic near the area but Ayovi closes and heads the ball out on the left.
	6	Lichtsteiner with a solo effort over the right, as he reaches the goal line at the edge of the area gets covered well and can't put the cross in rather kicking it over the bar into a goal kick. Switzerland so far without a dangerous opportunity. Ecuador is controlling the tempo.
	5	Montero makes a run forward creating a chance on the left, but Lichtsteiner is there to slide and get the ball into the corner. A short pass is made trying to get the ball into the penalty area, though it slides over the line for a goal kick.
	4	Behrami tackles on the right flank, Ayovi takes the free kick, but it's floated directly into Benaglio's hands.
	3	During the first three minutes Ecuador are going into attack over the right flank, expectedly creating chances over Antonio Valencia.
	2	A through ball from midfield intended in front on the right flank for Caicedo, but it's a bit too pacy for him and goes into the goal kick.
	1	Immediately Ecuador win the corner from the right, but the cross meets the header of the Swiss defender and it ricochetes out.
	1	And we're off as Ecuador kick off from the center circle. Ecuador going right to left, while the Swiss will attack the other way round.
	1	Game started.
		The teams are getting onto the pitch – Switzerland in the red-white kits, Ecuador in blue-yellow combination. The national anthems will be sung prior to the match and we're expect to start in a few minutes.
		Starting lineups: Switzerland: Benaglio – Rodriguez, von Bergen, Djourou, Lichtsteiner – Inler, Behrami, Xhaka, Stocker, Shaqiri – Drmic Subs: Sommer, Burki, Ziegler, Senderos, Lang, Barnetta, Seferovic, Dzemaili, Fernandes, Gavranovic, Mehmedi, Schar Ecuador: Dominguez – Ayovi W., Erazo, Guagua, Paredes – Noboa, Gruezo, Montero, Valencia A. – Valencia E., Caicedo Subs: Banguera, Bone, Ibarra, Mendez, Rojas, Minda, Arroyo, Ayovi J., Bagui, Saritama, Martinez, Achilier Referees: Irmator (UZB) – Rasulov (UZB), Kochkarov (KGZ) – Moen (NOR).
		The favourite of the Group should be France with Honduras being the underdog. Although Switzerland and Ecuador will want to say what they can and for sure they will have to be asked something before the knockout round.
		Ecuador Ecuador punched the ticket for the World Cup through the South American qualifier where they finished 4th, ahead of the South American chamion Uruguay. They finished with 25 points – 7 wins, drew four times and lost 5 matches altogether. Their top scorer was Felipe Caicedo who scored 7 goals.
		Switzerland Switzerland fought to the spot in the finals of the WC through Group E of the European stage. They won the Group with 24 points – 7 wins, 3 draws and without a single loss. Most goals were scored through Fabian Schar, who tucked it in three times.
		Good afternoon everyone! Tonight we're kicking off the Group E with the match between Switzerland and Ecuador. The match is due to start at 18:00 CET, 12:00 EDT, 13:00 local time in Brazil.
		Welcome. Game starts at 18:00.

Commentary by

Alan Ilijic

Goals & lineups

Goals: 48. Mehmedi, 90+3. Seferovic – 22. ValenciaE.

Cards: 84. Djourou (SUI) – 53. Paredes (ECU)

Switzerland: Benaglio – Rodriguez, von Bergen, Djourou, Lichtsteiner – Inler, Behrami, Xhaka, Stocker (45'), Shaqiri – Drmic
Subs: Sommer, Burki, Ziegler, Senderos, Lang, Barnetta, Seferovic, Dzemaili, Fernandes, Gavranovic, Mehmedi (45'), Schar

Ecuador: Dominguez – Ayovi W., Erazo, Guagua, Paredes – Noboa, Gruezo, Montero, Valencia A. – Valencia E. (G), Caicedo
Subs: Banguera, Bone, Ibarra, Mendez, Rojas, Minda, Arroyo, Ayovi J., Bagui, Saritama, Martinez, Achilier

Referees: Irmator (UZB) – Rasulov (UZB), Kochkarov (KGZ) – Moen (NOR)

Attendance: 68351