As the Group E matchup between Ecuador and Switzerland glided into stoppage time, it looked like we were going to see our first tie at this year’s World Cup.
Not so fast.
Switzerland’s Haris Seferovic scored with mere seconds remaining in the game to vault Switzerland past Ecuador, and left the South Americans holding their heads in disbelief as the final whistle blew seconds later. What looked like an excellent point for Ecuador had evaporated, and they were only left with themselves to blame.
Seferovic’s goal was set up by a brilliantly daring tackle in his own 18 yard box by Valon Behrami, who stripped Ecuador’s Michael Arroyo of the ball and then took off running up the middle of the field. He was taken down hard by an Ecuador defender, but a smart play-on from the referee allowed the Swiss to continue the buildup. The ball found Ricardo Rodriguez on the left side, and he swung a perfect cross in to the onrushing Seferovic, who found his way between two Ecuador defenders to blast home the winning goal:
Ecuador had jumped out in front in the 22nd minute on this wonderfully headed goal from Enner Valencia, who rose above his defender on a Walter Ayovi free kick:
Switzerland kept knocking on the door, finally having their efforts rewarded in the 48th minute when substitute striker Ottmar Hitzfeld freed himself on a corner kick and headed home from close range:
The teams then seemed to settle in, seemingly content to possess without too many daring runs forward. As the game wore on the urgency and intensity from both teams began to pick up, peaking in stoppage time and resulting in Seferovic’s remarkable winner.
This is the fifth time in nine matches at this World Cup that the team that has scored first has gone on to lose the game, a very strange deviation from the norm. Both of these teams have plenty to feel good about from this performance, though, and will watch eagerly to see what a Franck Ribery-less France does against Honduras this afternoon.
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