Shaqiri’s late goal give Swiss win over Serbia

KALININGRAD, Russia — Xherdan Shaqiri’s late goal secured Switzerland their first victory of the tournament with a 2-1 triumph over Serbia in Group E on Friday in Kaliningrad.

Aleksandar Mitrovic tallied the opening goal of the match in the fifth minute for Serbia and was answered by a Granit Xhaka blast in the 52nd minute.

That set up Shaqiri’s heroics in the 90th minute in front of 33,167 fans at Kaliningrad Stadium. It was the first time in Russia that the team who went ahead 1-0 lost the game.

“We were strong as a team and I am very thrilled to have contributed a goal,” Shaqiri said.

“I don’t have any emotions left. I feel empty, it was an interesting match to say the least. We had a rollercoaster ride here,” Switzerland coach Vladimir Petkovic said.

“We fell behind 1-0 and we found our balance in the second half. After the first goal I was euphoric. That was an excellent way to score, and nobody would have believed that we could have turned this game around. So that was very emotional.”

Serbia manager Mladen Krstajic said his team could be satisfied with the first half.

“We went up 1-0 at the right time tactically. Technically we were sound. We conceded a naïve goal,” Krstajic said.

“We were in the attack and they countered us, and it was a naively conceded goal.”

Switzerland moved into colead in Group E with four points along with Brazil while Serbia remained on three points. Costa Rica have zero points from two matches and are already ousted.

Krstajic swapped one player from the team’s 1-0 win over Costa Rica with Filip Kostic coming on for Adem Ljajic.

Petkovic, for his part, did not make a single change to the starting line-up that drew 1-1 with Brazil.

Mitrovic tested Yann Sommer with a header in the fifth minute but the Switzerland keeper made a fine diving save.

The Newcastle striker got the better of Sommer just seconds later as he rose to a cross from Dusan Tadic to head back towards the far left post and in for a 1-0 lead at the five-minute mark.

It was the earliest goal allowed by Switzerland at a

World Cup since 1962.

The goal also put Mitrovic back on track after missing two big chances against Costa Rica. The 23-year-old has scored 13 goals and had two assists in his last 15 starts for Serbia, according to Opta.

The Swiss had their first chance at the half-hour mark with Blerim Dzemaili running onto a ball from Steven Zuber but unable to beat Serbia keeper Vladimir Stojkovic.

Tadic threatened the Swiss goal once more just before the break but his hammer blast sailed just over the bar.

Mitrovic had another chance seven minutes after the re-start but he sent his header over the bar.

Xhaka made the Serbs pay for their inefficiency with a thunderous blast in the 52nd minute after a long run onto the ball to equalize at 1-1.

A bit of magic by Shaqiri on the right side nearly saw the Swiss take the lead in the 57th but his curling shot hit only the angle of the post and bar.

Serbia had a legtimate reason to have German referee Felix Brych check the video replay in the 65th minute as Mitrovic was dragged down by two Swiss players. But the German official refused to review the play.

Switzerland kept their cool and ventured forward often in the final quarter hour but it was a counter-attack that got them the winning goal in the 90th minute.

Mario Gavranovic sent a long ball to Shaqiri, who raced from his own half and then fended off a defender and slotted under Stojkovic for the victory.

Coutinho and Neymar strike late to help Brazil beat dogged Costa Rica

ST. PETERSBURG — Philippe Coutinho and Neymar’s stoppage time strikes saved five-time world champions Brazil’s blushes in a 2-0 win over Costa Rica. at the World Cup.

Brazil had been frustrated by Costa Rica’s tight defence and goalkeeper Keylor Navas, before referee Bjorn Kuipers infuriated the South Americans by awarding them a penalty and then wiping it out after watching the replay.

The Dutch official pointed to the spot when Neymar appeared to be held back by Giancarlo Gonzalez in the penalty area, but after using the VAR system to view the incident again, he changed his mind.

As it looked like Brazil were going to follow up their 1-1 tie with Switzerland with another draw, Coutinho burst into the box to reach Roberto Firmino’s header and drilled it past Navas, before Neymar added a second.

The win leaves Brazil top of the group on four points, before Serbia face Switzerland later Friday. Costa Rica now cannot reach the last 16.