Remo Freuler scored the winner as Switzerland produced one of the high-scoring World Cup results of the midweek action. Switzerland took the lead in the 20th minute on a deflected shot from Xherdan Shaqiri. Serbia, however, who had been the better team up until that point, quickly tied it up with a trademark header from Aleksandar Mitrovic, and then sensationally took the lead when Dusan Vlahovic found the bottom corner, briefly moving them up to second place in Group G. In a thrilling first half, Breel Embolo gave Switzerland a late-game comeback, but they quickly regained the lead after an excellent team goal that Remo Freuler finished off.
Goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic stopped shots from Granit Xhaka and Embolo as Switzerland became the first team in World Cup history to have three shots in the opening minute of play. Serbia impressed despite the early scare when Andrija Zivkovic’s potent volley from outside the box struck a post. Shaqiri’s shot was deflected into the net and Switzerland became the first team to score. Mitrovic promptly evened the score for his team despite Serbia still having the upper hand thanks to a fantastic looping header from Tadic’s well-delivered cross. They were in a position to qualify seven minutes later when Vlahovic capitalized on Freuler’s mistake to strike into the bottom corner.
But there would be one final twist: Silvan Widmer would cross from the right and Embolo would come on to side-foot home, making the score 2-2. Beginning the second period with a beautiful play featuring Embolo, Shaqiri, and Vargas, Switzerland then flicked the ball to Freuler, who swiftly made up for his earlier error and blasted in the game’s fifth goal. Serbia never regained its smooth attacking plays of the first half as the game turned tight, reminding fans of the acrimonious match between the two teams at the 2018 World Cup.
For more World Cup results, click here
