SWISS MAKE THEIR POINT TO ROLL ON
SWITZERLAND secured the draw they needed to reach the knockout stages amid more trademark World Cup 2018 drama.
And Costa Rica finally broke their goal duck and put a Group E point on the board after late, double penalty controversy.
They had one injury-time award overturned following a VAR review. Seconds later came another spotkick, Bryan Ruiz’s shot bouncing down off the bar, hitting keeper Yann Sommer on the back of the head and going in.
The Swiss were never in danger of not progressing and Costa Rica were out before kick-off.
But the breathless finish ensured this game had its talking points.
Switzerland now head for St Petersburg where they will face Sweden in the last 16 on Tuesday.
But bookings for captain Stephan Lichtsteiner and defender Fabian Schar rule them out of that game and took some gloss off their progress. Costa Rica flew out of the traps determined to end their wait for a goal and had four efforts in the first 10 minutes.
Only a stunning Sommer save to tip a Celso Borges header onto a post saved them and Daniel Colindres then robbed Xherdan Shaqiri and bent a brilliant effort onto the bar.
But Switzerland weathered the storm and went ahead on 31 minutes through Blerim Dzemaili. Kendall Waston (left) levelled when he headed home a Joel Campbell corner.
Sub Josip Drmic looked to have wiped the smile off Costa Rica faces with an 88th-minute goal.
But, after a first penalty was overturned for Ruiz being offside, Campbell won another – and the unlucky Sommer ensured it ended honours even.