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Agence France-Presse

A last-minute Xherdan Shaqiri breakaway goal handed Switzerland World Cup victory Friday as they came from behind to defeat Serbia 2-1 in Kaliningrad.
The win puts Switzerland in pole position to make it out of a tough Group E that contains five-times winners Brazil but they were pushed all the way by the Serbs.
It was a sweet victory for Shaqiri and fellow Swiss goalscorer Granit Xhaka, who along with teammate Valon Belrami were booed relentlessly by Serbia’s fans throughout.

Shaqiri, Xhaka and Belrami trace their roots to Kosovo, a former province of Serbia, a fact which had stoked tensions before the match.
Both Shaqiri and Xhaka pointedly celebrated their goals by making an eagle gesture with their hands, viewed as a symbol of defiance.
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Serbia raced out of the blocks, funnelling possession to Southampton winger Dusan Tadic on the right flank, who troubled Switzerland with his crossing all match.
An Aleksandar Mitrovic header forced a smart save from Swiss keeper Yann Sommer after four minutes.

Seconds later, Tadic took the ball past left-back Ricardo Rodriguez, cut back on his favoured left foot and delivered a majestic cross that Mitrovic duly buried with his head.
In a frenetic first half, Switzerland had more of the ball but were sloppy with it, giving away possession in advanced positions and sending Serbia on the break.
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Lazio’s highly rated Sergej Milinkovic-Savic fizzed a right-footed shot narrowly wide of Sommer’s right post on 15 minutes, and Mitrovic almost scored with a spectacular bicycle kick that went the same way minutes later.

Switzerland, who came to Russia ranked ahead of the likes of France and Spain, felt their way into the game as the first-half progressed.
On the half-hour mark, Steven Zuber cleverly teed up Blerim Dzemaili but the Hoffenheim man got his feet in a muddle and Vladimir Stojkovic was able to parry away.
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But it was Serbia, who beat Costa Rica 1-0 in their Group E opener, who nearly went in two up.
Nemanja Matic missed a glorious chance to double the lead just before the break when Tadic’s inswinging corner found him unmarked at the back post but the Manchester United midfielder couldn’t sort his feet out.

Matic said during the build-up the team were expecting a “hellish” encounter with the Swiss, who in their game with Brazil fouled star forward Neymar 10 times alone.
Switzerland grew in stature after the break and were rewarded with a spectacular equaliser courtesy of Xhaka’s 52nd-minute piledriver.
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They had the better chances in the second period, with Shaqiri’s curling effort from the edge of the area grazing Stojkovic’s bar on the hour mark.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic brought on attackers Breel Embolo and Mario Gavranovic in a bid to force a winner, and Gavranovic forced a smart save from Stojkovic from a close range effort with 10 minutes remaining.
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But it was Stoke City winger Shaqiri who struck the decisive blow, breaking through Serbia’s offside trap to slot home calmly as the 90 minutes wound down.
Serbia will now need something from their final Group E match against Brazil, while a draw against Costa Rica would see Switzerland through.






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Fifa World Cup 2018

Fifa World Cup: Switzerland stun Serbia as Xherdan Shaqiri strikes at the death in comeback win in Kaliningrad

Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland celebrates victory after the 2018 Fifa World Cup Group E match against Serbia. Photo: Xinhua

Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic gestures after missing a chance during the group E match between Switzerland and Serbia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia, Friday, June 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

A Swiss supporter reacts during the public viewing of the 2018 World Cup Group E soccer match between Switzerland and Serbia, in the fan zone "ProgR" in Bern, Switzerland, Friday, June 22, 2018. Switzerland went on to win the game 2-1. (Anthony Anex/Keystone via AP)

Serbia's forward Aleksandar Mitrovic (R) reacts as Switzerland's goalkeeper Yann Sommer (L) reaches for the ball during their Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Serbia and Switzerland at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad on June 22, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Attila KISBENEDEK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS

Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, right, celebrates next to Serbia's Nemanja Matic after scoring his side's second goal during the group E match between Switzerland and Serbia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia, Friday, June 22, 2018. Shaqiri scored once in Switzerland's 2-1 victory. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Serbia's midfielder Nemanja Matic (L) and Switzerland's midfielder Blerim Dzemaili fight for the ball during their Russia 2018 World Cup Group E football match between Serbia and Switzerland at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad on June 22, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Attila KISBENEDEK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS

Sport

Football

Granit Xhaka wonder goal equalises after Aleksandar Mitrovic had put Costa Rica’s conquerors ahead in group E game


Fifa World Cup: Switzerland stun Serbia as Xherdan Shaqiri strikes at the death in comeback win in Kaliningrad

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Granit Xhaka wonder goal equalises after Aleksandar Mitrovic had put Costa Rica’s conquerors ahead in group E game

Granit Xhaka wonder goal equalises after Aleksandar Mitrovic had put Costa Rica’s conquerors ahead in group E game