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Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri seals victory over Serbia
Switzerland took a huge step towards the last 16 of the World Cup as Xherdan Shaqiri scored a brilliant, solo 90th-minute winner against Serbia.
The Stoke City player collected the ball near the halfway line before dribbling away from the defence and slotting past Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic.
Granit Xhaka had scored a brilliant equaliser for Switzerland after Aleksandar Mitrovic put Serbia in front with a header in the fifth minute.
Serbia, who had a strong claim for a second half penalty turned down, had dominated the first half, knowing a win would have confirmed their place in the knockout stages.
Switzerland are now level with Brazil on four points at the top of Group E, in second place due to an inferior goal difference.
They will qualify for the last 16 with a draw against Costa Rica, who have already been eliminated, in their final game.
If Switzerland win, Serbia must beat Brazil in their final game to progress.
Second-half performance earns thrilling win
Switzerland had been outplayed in the first half as they struggled to create going forward and seemed unable to contain constant Serbia attacks.
Swiss striker Haris Seferovic was substituted at half-time having had just five touches and that move seemed to spring Switzerland into life.
Xhaka drove a powerful strike from the edge of the box past the stranded Stojkovic to equalise in the 52nd minute and soon after Shaqiri hit the post with a curling effort from the edge of the box.
Shaqiri was far more influential in the second half - capitalising on poor defending for the winning goal when Serbia left themselves exposed at the back as they pushed for a winner of their own.
The forward was left one-on-one with Dusko Tosic on the halfway line and he was too quick for the Serbia centre-back after Mario Gavranovic found him with a throughball.
Switzerland faced the prospect of needing to win their final game and hope Serbia beat Brazil to progress but now their fate very much in their own hands.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Serbia
1Stojkovic
6Ivanovic
15Milenkovic
3Tosic
11Kolarov
4MilivojevicBooked at 39minsSubstituted forRadonjicat 81'minutes
21MaticBooked at 45mins
10Tadic
20Milinkovic-SavicBooked at 33mins
17KosticSubstituted forLjajicat 65'minutes
9MitrovicBooked at 87mins
Substitutes
2Rukavina
5Spajic
7Zivkovic
8Prijovic
12Rajkovic
13Veljkovic
14Rodic
16Grujic
18Radonjic
19Jovic
22Ljajic
23Dmitrovic
Switzerland
1Sommer
2Lichtsteiner
22Schär
5Akanji
13Rodríguez
11Behrami
10Xhaka
23ShaqiriBooked at 90mins
15DzemailiSubstituted forEmboloat 73'minutes
14ZuberSubstituted forDrmicat 90+4'minutes
9SeferovicSubstituted forGavranovicat 45'minutes
Substitutes
3Moubandje
4Elvedi
6Lang
7Embolo
8Freuler
12Mvogo
16Fernandes
17Zakaria
18Gavranovic
19Drmic
20Djourou
21Bürki
Referee:
Dr. Felix Brych
Match Stats
Home TeamSerbiaAway TeamSwitzerland
Possession
Home38%
Away62%
Shots
Home13
Away20
Shots on Target
Home3
Away5
Corners
Home3
Away7
Fouls
Home17
Away13
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Serbia 1, Switzerland 2.
Full TimePosted at 90'+6'
Second Half ends, Serbia 1, Switzerland 2.
Posted at 90'+6'
Attempt missed. Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Mario Gavranovic.
Posted at 90'+6'
Foul by Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland).
Posted at 90'+6'
Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+5'
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Nemanja Radonjic.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+4'
Substitution, Switzerland. Josip Drmic replaces Steven Zuber.
Posted at 90'+3'
Mario Gavranovic (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Dusko Tosic (Serbia).
BookingPosted at 90'
Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal!Posted at 90'
Goal! Serbia 1, Switzerland 2. Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mario Gavranovic following a fast break.
Posted at 89'
Fabian Schär (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Aleksandar Kolarov (Serbia).
Posted at 88'
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Branislav Ivanovic.
BookingPosted at 87'
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 87'
Valon Behrami (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia).
Posted at 87'
Corner, Serbia. Conceded by Manuel Akanji.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Manuel Akanji (Switzerland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Breel Embolo (Switzerland) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ricardo Rodríguez with a cross.
Posted at 86'
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Posted at 86'
Attempt blocked. Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 85'
Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Nemanja Matic (Serbia).
Posted at 84'
Attempt saved. Mario Gavranovic (Switzerland) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Breel Embolo.
Posted at 83'
Attempt missed. Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Posted at 82'
Corner, Switzerland. Conceded by Branislav Ivanovic.
Posted at 82'
Attempt saved. Breel Embolo (Switzerland) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Steven Zuber.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, Serbia. Nemanja Radonjic replaces Luka Milivojevic.
Posted at 79'
Mario Gavranovic (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Dusko Tosic (Serbia).
Posted at 78'
Foul by Ricardo Rodríguez (Switzerland).
Posted at 78'
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 77'
Attempt blocked. Adem Ljajic (Serbia) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Valon Behrami (Switzerland).
Posted at 76'
Nemanja Matic (Serbia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 74'
Offside, Switzerland. Xherdan Shaqiri tries a through ball, but Mario Gavranovic is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Switzerland. Breel Embolo replaces Blerim Dzemaili.
Posted at 71'
Xherdan Shaqiri (Switzerland) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 71'
Foul by Dusko Tosic (Serbia).
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Source: bbc.com