Switzerland booked a last-16 showdown with Portugal on the World Cup on Friday after a 3-2 win over Serbia in a bad-tempered match secured them second place in Group G. Xherdan Shaqiri‘s deflected strike put the Swiss forward however Aleksandar Mitrovic‘s positive header introduced Serbia stage at Stadium 974. Dusan Vlahovic then gave Serbia the lead just for Breel Embolo to equalise earlier than half-time.

Remo Freuler‘s sensible aim early within the second half despatched the Swiss by way of to the knockout rounds for the fourth time in 5 World Cups.

Bad blood marred the assembly between the groups on the 2018 match, when Granit Xhaka and Shaqiri celebrated targets by making pro-Kosovo gestures that enraged the Serbs. Tempers flared within the second half on Friday after Serbia appealed for a penalty, with the stadium announcer calling for an finish to “all discriminatory chants and gestures” round quarter-hour later.

Switzerland, who had their future in their very own palms, practically struck inside 30 seconds however Embolo’s try was nicely blocked by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who palmed away the follow-up from Xhaka.

Serbia’s Andrija Zivkovic rattled the publish from distance with a candy curling effort and Vlahovic bundled the rebound straight into goalkeeper Gregor Kobel’s arms.

Shaqiri strikes

Shaqiri missed Switzerland’s 1-0 loss to Brazil however returned with a bang as he fired his aspect in entrance on 20 minutes.

Ricardo Rodriguez speared a cross into the field which was cleared straight to Djibril Sow, who laid off for Shaqiri to brush residence by way of the leg of Strahinja Pavlovic in entrance of the Serbia followers. This time there was no double eagle gesture. Instead, Shaqiri put his finger to his lips and pointed to the identify on his shirt as a handful of bottles rained down.

Serbia hit again inside minutes as Switzerland misplaced the ball in midfield, Dusan Tadic bending in a cross for Mitrovic to fulfill beautifully and nod into the far nook.

Shaqiri steered huge underneath strain from Pavlovic after timing his run completely to fulfill Rodriguez’s raking diagonal move, however the Swiss then paid for one more lapse in focus. They once more ceded possession and Freuler watched on in dismay as his tried interception served solely to tee up Vlahovic to roll the ball past Kobel.

But Switzerland equalised a minute earlier than the break as Sow picked out Silvan Widmer in acres of house on the fitting and his pushed low cross was turned in by Embolo.

The Cameroon-born striker’s strain on a lumbering Pavlovic gave Switzerland their third aim proper after half-time, an excellent staff effort completed by Freuler. Shaqiri clipped in a fragile ball after Embolo gained it again excessive up, and Ruben Vargas’s cushioned backheel left Freuler to information in from across the penalty spot.

Serbia appealed in useless for a penalty when Mitrovic theatrically fell to the bottom, sparking an unpleasant flashpoint that led to order Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic being booked.

Substitute Christian Fassnacht spurned a late probability to ease Swiss nerves when clear by way of on aim. An unseemly spat between Xhaka and Nikola Milenkovic threatened to boil over, however in the long run the Swiss acquired over the road to arrange a date with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal.

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