FIFA World Cup: Brazil, Switzerland move up
Former World champions Brazil and Switzerland moved into the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup 2018 on Wednesday.
Brazil scored once in each half to defeat Serbia 2-0. In another group E match Switzerland scored one goal in first half and scored two, one for its opponents Costa Rica, to end its group matches with a 2-2 draw.
The second goal for Costa Rica was a rare goal which Switzerland scored against its own team. A penalty kick awarded in extra = wastage - time, saw the shot taken by Bryan Ruiz hitting underneath of the crosspiece and bounced into play that was put home by Yann Sommer. The goal was officially credited as "own" goal, the seventh of the tournament.
Brazil scored once in each half to defeat Serbia 2-0. In another group E match, Switzerland also scored once in each half but also conceded a goal to Costa Rica in the second half to win its last group match 2-1.
Unlike group F where South Korea surprised and knocked defending champions Germany out of the tournament, the final outcomes of both the games were on expected lines. Though Costa Rica was already on the list of the nations that stand eliminated, it managed to score its first goal of the current World Cup. The last goal scored by Costa Rica in World Cup was in 2014 when it scored against Greece in the round of 16. The scorer was Kendall Watson.
He headed in from a corner kick in the 58th minute.
Switzerland had taken lead in the 31st minute through Blerim Dzemaili.
Interestingly, Switzerland has since 1966 never lost a match in which it took lead in the first half.
Josep Drmic pumped in the second goal for Swiss in the 88th minute to guarantee a passage to his team in the round of 16.
Brazil had a tough opponent in Serbia.
In the first half, Paulinho game the South Americans lead with a goal in the 36th minute.
Thiago Silva completed the tally with a header following a corner to make the issue safe for Brazil.
