Swiss stun Spain, Chile notches win
Source: Agencies |
June 17, 2010, Thursday
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SWITZERLAND pulled off the biggest shock of this World Cup when it beat European champion Spain 1-0 yesterday, its first ever victory over its opponent in 19 games.
Gelson Fernandes' goal after a mix up in the Spanish defense gave the Swiss a shock 52nd-minute lead and Spain, for all its talent and guile, was unable to find a way through the massed ranks of white Switzerland shirts.
"We tried in an orthodox way and in an heroic way but we were not able to score. It wasn't our day. We dominated almost all the match," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said.
"This defeat means that we have to win the other two (group) matches," he added.
The Swiss share the lead in Group H with Chile, which beat Honduras 1-0 earlier in the day.
After a forgettable first half in Durban, the Swiss looked like spending another 45 minutes defending for their lives until goalkeeper Diego Benaglio's long clearance was allowed to bounce and Fernandes pounced when the ball emerged from a clutter of bodies.
The European champion, many pundits' favorite to win the tournament, enjoyed a near monopoly of possession for much of the game but was unable to convert its chances.
Del Bosque, who had started the match with David Villa as a lone striker, brought Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas on after the goal to try and rescue the game but they were unable to find a way through.
Xabi Alonso hit the underside of the bar with a fine strike in the 70th minute, Navas shot lamely at Benaglio when through on goal about a minute later, and Gerard Pique squandered another chance on the next Spanish attack.
Eren Derdiyok, playing in place of his injured captain Alex Frei, then jinked his way through the defense to almost double the Swiss lead but, to the relief of the Spanish, his shot came bouncing back off the post.
The defeat ended Spain's run of 12 straight wins. The Swiss handed the Spanish team only its second loss in 50 games.
In Nelspruit, Jean Beausejour scored the only goal in the 34th minute as Chile secured its first World Cup victory in 48 years.
The Chileans deserved their victory but despite their pressure the South Americans struggled to kill the game off.
Chile's victory came 48 years to the day after it last won a World Cup match - a third-place playoff against Yugoslavia at home in 1962.Since then the Chileans had been to four World Cups, played 13 matches and had failed to win a single one.
Gelson Fernandes' goal after a mix up in the Spanish defense gave the Swiss a shock 52nd-minute lead and Spain, for all its talent and guile, was unable to find a way through the massed ranks of white Switzerland shirts.
"We tried in an orthodox way and in an heroic way but we were not able to score. It wasn't our day. We dominated almost all the match," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said.
"This defeat means that we have to win the other two (group) matches," he added.
The Swiss share the lead in Group H with Chile, which beat Honduras 1-0 earlier in the day.
After a forgettable first half in Durban, the Swiss looked like spending another 45 minutes defending for their lives until goalkeeper Diego Benaglio's long clearance was allowed to bounce and Fernandes pounced when the ball emerged from a clutter of bodies.
The European champion, many pundits' favorite to win the tournament, enjoyed a near monopoly of possession for much of the game but was unable to convert its chances.
Del Bosque, who had started the match with David Villa as a lone striker, brought Fernando Torres and Jesus Navas on after the goal to try and rescue the game but they were unable to find a way through.
Xabi Alonso hit the underside of the bar with a fine strike in the 70th minute, Navas shot lamely at Benaglio when through on goal about a minute later, and Gerard Pique squandered another chance on the next Spanish attack.
Eren Derdiyok, playing in place of his injured captain Alex Frei, then jinked his way through the defense to almost double the Swiss lead but, to the relief of the Spanish, his shot came bouncing back off the post.
The defeat ended Spain's run of 12 straight wins. The Swiss handed the Spanish team only its second loss in 50 games.
In Nelspruit, Jean Beausejour scored the only goal in the 34th minute as Chile secured its first World Cup victory in 48 years.
The Chileans deserved their victory but despite their pressure the South Americans struggled to kill the game off.
Chile's victory came 48 years to the day after it last won a World Cup match - a third-place playoff against Yugoslavia at home in 1962.Since then the Chileans had been to four World Cups, played 13 matches and had failed to win a single one.
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