Seferovic swoops in injury-time for Swiss

Switzerland 2 Ecuador 1

The Real Sociedad striker got on the end of a late counter-attack to convert Ricardo Rodriguez’s low cross at the near post and make it 2-1.

Ironically, the chance came from Ecuador’s final attack of the game when Michael Arroyo delayed his shot and was dispossessed by Valon Behrami, who then launched a swift break.

Poor defending had resulted in the first two goals with Enner Valencia heading Ecuador in front in the first half.

Admir Mehmedi nodded home a corner just two minutes after his half-time introduction but fellow substitute Seferovic made an even more important contribution with almost the last kick of the game.

Switzerland will feel justice was done as they had a second-half goal by Josip Drmic wrongly ruled out for offside.

They hardly helped themselves, however, as, in the 22nd minute, some slapdash zonal marking for Walter Ayovi’s free-kick saw Granit Xhaka and Johann Djourou both get the wrong side of Valencia who easily converted from close range.

The response saw Behrami’s close-range header claimed at the second attempt by goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez while Xherdan Shaqiri’s shot was blocked by Frickson Erazo.

But just 122 seconds after coming on for the second half Mehmedi headed home Ricardo Rodriguez’s corner as marker Carlos Gruezo failed to even jump and Dominguez’s got hopelessly out of position.

Ecuador hit back with Valencia firing just over after a lateral run across the edge of the penalty area and Jefferson Montero’s driving run down the left ending with goalkeeper Diego Benaglio deflecting a shot behind with his legs.

With 20 minutes to go Drmic had goal ruled out despite the touch from Rodriguez’s ball coming from Jorge Guagua after Xhaka had dummied.

Benaglio and Djourou’s miscommunication and subsequent tangle presented Valencia with an open goal but Steve von Bergen tidied up the loose ball but the goalkeeper redeemed himself to save Arroyo’s deflected free-kick.

Arroyo’s hesitation in dealing with Manchester United winter Antonio Valencia’s cross proved disastrous in the final minute as Behrami blocked and broke downfield to set up the winner.

SWITZERLAND: Benaglio, Lichtsteiner, Djourou, von Bergen, Rodriguez, Behrami, Inler, Shaqiri, Xhaka, Stocker (Mehmedi 46), Drmic (Seferovic 75).

ECUADOR: Dominguez, Paredes, Erazo, Guagua, Walter Ayovi, Antonio Valencia, Gruezo, Noboa, Montero (Rojas 76), Caicedo (Arroyo 70), Enner Valencia.

Referee: Ravshan Irmatov.