Al Wakrah (Qatar): Switzerland edged Cameroon 1-0 courtesy of a purpose in opposition to the run of play by apologetic Breel Embolo versus the nation of his delivery for a gap win in World Cup Group G on the Al Janoub Stadium on Thursday.
Embolo, born in Yaounde however raised in Basel, struck three minutes after the restart from a Xherdan Shaqiri cut-back to place them prime of the part.
The 25-year-old refused to rejoice the purpose on his sixtieth worldwide look, lifting his fingers within the air and frowning because the small group of Swiss followers cheered wildly at Al Janoub Stadium.
Swiss coach Murat Yakin praised his crew’s general show.
“This was a mature efficiency with loads of solidarity from all the crew,” he stated.
Switzerland gamers applaud the followers after the match. Photograph: Reuters/Suhaib Salem
The Switzerland purpose got here after Cameroon had dominated the primary half, lacking a number of good probabilities to take the lead.
The Indomitable Lions, who eradicated Algeria in a play-off to qualify for the match, had outplayed the Swiss within the first 45 minutes with fast combos, velocity and energy as their opponents remained toothless up entrance.
They carved out their first probability after 10 minutes with Bryan Mbeumo testing goalkeeper Yann Sommer earlier than Karl Toko Ekambi despatched his rebound over the bar.
Cameroon’s Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, proper, strikes ahead previous Switzerland’s Djibril Sow. Photograph: AFP/Fabrice Coffrini
The Swiss had been in bother once more slightly later with in-form ahead Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting snatching the ball from an opponent to cost into the field just for Sommer to dam his effort.
In quest of their first win at a World Cup in 20 years, Cameroon had been bolder, taking over their opponents in one-on-one conditions, whereas the Swiss not often managed to get into the African facet’s field.
Switzerland, who reached the final 16 within the two earlier World Cups, struck in the beginning of the second half with veteran Shaqiri reducing into the realm and Embolo tapping in what proved to be the winner.
An virtually similar transfer simply previous the hour virtually noticed the Swiss rating once more however Ruben Vargas’s shot was pushed broad by keeper Andre Onana to maintain his crew within the sport.
Cameron failed to copy their first half efficiency, failing to noticeably threaten Sommer, and had been fortunate to not concede one other in stoppage time by way of Haris Seferovic.
“The subsequent match is decisive for us. We now have to create alternatives. However we stay with our heads held excessive and know that something is feasible,” Cameroon coach Rigobert Music stated.
The Swiss subsequent play Brazil on Monday with Cameroon taking over Serbia.