Switzerland grab dramatic win over Serbia

Xherdan Shaqiri scored a dramatic, late winner as Switzerland came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over Serbia in this World Cup Group E clash.

Aleksandar Mitrovic had given the Serbians the lead in the first half, getting on the end of a cross to glance a header into the net. And the Newcastle United forward, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Fulham, caused problems throughout.

But Switzerland made a change to their team and their approach at the break and emerged for the second half a different team, restoring parity on the 53rd minute when Granit Xhaka swept home a left-footed strike from 25 yards out.

The Swiss continued to press forward as the match became more open, and they got their reward with just minutes left to play when Shaqiri broke the offside trap on the halfway line to beat his man for pace and finish calmly past Vladimir Stojkovic in the Serbian goal.

Mitrovic now knows how Harry Kane felt during England’s game against Tunisia. There was an incident in the second half when the Serbian striker was dragged to the ground by both Stephan Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schar as they challenged for a cross. Yet, just as happened with Kane, the refereeing team in Moscow using VAR failed to indicate anything to the referee. VAR has worked rather well at this World Cup so far, but why is it not being used for manhandling in the box?

He was identified as Switzerland’s difference-maker before the match and so it proved by full time. Shaqiri scored the winning goal with just minutes left to play, but he was key to the way the Swiss managed to change the flow of the game after the half time break. The Stoke City man took a grip of things in the second half and gave Serbia all kinds of problems.

Serbia - Stojkovic 6, Ivanovic 6, Milenkovic 6, Tosic 6, Kolarov 7, Matic 6, Milivojevic 6, Tadic 8, Milinkovic-Savic 7, Kostic 6, Mitrovic 8. Subs - Ljajic, Radonjic.

Switzerland - Sommer 6, Lichtsteiner 5, Schar 5, Akanji 7, Rodriguez 7, Behrami 6, Xhaka 7, Shaqiri 9, Dzemaili 7, Zuber 6, Seferovic 5. Subs - Embolo 7, Gavranovic 7.

5’ GOAL! Serbia 1-0 Switzerland: Mitrovic for Serbia! He's grabbed the opening goal of the game! Tadic sends a cross into the box and the Newcastle United striker glances a fantastic header high into the net! Great goal from Mitrovic.

31’ CHANCE FOR SWITZERLAND! That might have been 1-1. Dzemaili played a lovely ball in behind for Seferovic, but Stojkovic comes off his line to make the intervention at the striker's feet.

43’ WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY! That should have been a second goal for Serbia. The corner kick from Tadic was a wicked one, Tosic misses his header and Matic knees it wide. Wow.

53’ GOAL! Serbia 1-1 Switzerland: Switzerland are back on level terms! The ball fall to the edge of the Serbian penalty area and Xhaka met it first time to sweep home into the back of the net with his left foot. Excellent goal by the Arsenal man!

58’ WOWEEEE! OFF THE POST! That would have been a sensational goal. That would have been goal of the tournament. Shaqiri tries his luck from an impossible angle, but his wicked curling strike clips the outside of the far post.

66’ PENALTY CLAIM! Mitrovic believes that he was dragged to the ground by Lichtsteiner and Schar. He certainly has a case. How hasn't VAR caught that in the soft checks? That was a penalty.

89’ GOAL! Serbia 1-2 Switzerland: The Swiss have probably won this game in the last minute of regular time! Shaqiri broke the offside trap at the halfway line, beating Tosic for pace, and the Stoke man had enough about him to slide home the calm finish! Drama!

Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 18 goals in 26 games for club and country in 2018.

Switzerland have lost just one of their last 24 games (a qualifier against Portugal in October, 2017 was their last loss).