BRASÍLIA - A goal deep in stoppage time by Haris Seferovic gave Switzerland a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ecuador in their Group E opener at the World Cup on Sunday.
The match looked destined to end in a draw until Seferovic, a substitute, scored from close range in the last of three minutes of injury time. Ecuador barely had time to restart before the final whistle was blown.
Enner Valencia gave Ecuador the lead in the 22nd minute. Switzerland tied the score in the 48th when Admir Mehmedi, another substitute, headed the ball home.
The match was the fifth out of nine at this World Cup in which a team came from behind to win.
Switzerland, ranked No. 6 by FIFA and the top-seeded team in a group that also contains France and Honduras, has a young, dynamic team after being considered among the bores of the last two World Cups.
But the Swiss were again disappointing in the first half Sunday, misplacing passes and hitting crosses too hard. They fell behind when Valencia guided a glancing header into the net, with Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio left completely stranded.
Switzerland did most of the attacking but lacked a cutting edge, leading Ottmar Hitzfeld, the team's experienced coach, to change things up at halftime and introduce Mehmedi for Valentin Stocker. Mehmedi made an instant impact, holding off two challengers to head in Ricardo Rodríguez's 48th-minute corner.
Late in the game, Switzerland midfielder Valon Behrami made a superb tackle in his own penalty area, and Rodríguez scampered down the left wing and sent a cross low to Seferovic, who slammed the ball high into the net. Behrami was mobbed by as many teammates as Seferovic while Ecuador's players hung their heads in disappointment.
Entities 0 Name: Switzerland Count: 6 1 Name: Ecuador Count: 4 2 Name: Seferovic Count: 3 3 Name: FIFA Count: 1 4 Name: Enner Valencia Count: 1 5 Name: Honduras Count: 1 6 Name: BRASÍLIA Count: 1 7 Name: Diego Benaglio Count: 1 8 Name: Ricardo Rodríguez Count: 1 9 Name: Rodríguez Count: 1 10 Name: Valentin Stocker Count: 1 11 Name: France Count: 1 12 Name: Admir Mehmedi Count: 1 13 Name: Valencia Count: 1 14 Name: Haris Seferovic Count: 1 15 Name: Valon Behrami Count: 1 16 Name: Ottmar Hitzfeld Count: 1 17 Name: Behrami Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/TZSnuF Title: Fifa World Cup 2014, Switzerland v Ecuador: Where to Watch Live, Preview and Team News Description: Switzerland take on Ecuador in the first match of Group E at the Estadio Nacional, Brasilia on Sunday. Where to Watch Live The kickoff is set for 5pm BST. Live coverage is on ITV. Radio commentary of the game will be available on BBC Radio 5 Live.
