Chile continued their dream World Cup run with a 1-0 defeat of 10-man Switzerland here on Monday to move within touching distance of the last 16. The South Americans climbed to the top of Group H after second half substitute Mark Gonzalez finally broke down a steely Swiss defence in the 75th minute.
Chile, who had beaten Honduras 1-0 last week, will be assured qualification if Monday’s late game between Spain and Honduras ends in a draw. Switzerland were up against it after going a man down on 30 minutes when Valon Behrami was sent off.
The West Ham midfielder was given his marching orders by Saudi Arabian referee Khalil Al Ghamdi for a tangle with Arturo Vidal after he appeared to elbow the Bayer Leverkusen player in the face. Chile, who had impressed with their attacking passion in their opening 1-0 win over Honduras, had the first shot on target when Italy-based Carlos Carmona fired in from 20m, the ball safely scooped up by Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio.
Carmona then ensured he would miss Chile’s closing Group H match with Spain by picking up a yellow card for a challenge on Behrami in the 21st minute to add to the one he received last week.
Chile finally made the breakthrough they had been threatening for so long when Esteban Paredes, who had only entered the fray 10 minutes earlier as a replacement for Matias Fernandez, raced around Benaglio and found Gonzalez who headed into an empty goal.
Swiss set a new World Cup record of 559 minutes played without scoring a goal, to overtake Italy’s mark of 550 minutes.
— AFP