Live commentary: Honduras - Switzerland 0:3 (World Cup 2014 Brazil, Group E)

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Slideshow World Cup 2014 Brazil Group E, Honduras - Switzerland

Honduras	Wednesday, 25. June 2014 21:00 Clock	Switzerland
	0:3

goals
0 : 1	Xherdan Shaqiri 6. / left-footed shot
0 : 2	Xherdan Shaqiri 31. / left-footed shot (Josip Drmić)
0 : 3	Xherdan Shaqiri 71. / left-footed shot (Josip Drmić)

90'		Full-Time Switzerland are through to the last sixteen after a 3:0 win against Honduras! But the three-goal difference doesn't reflect the actual game. Honduras had more possession and in the second half a lot of good chances which were either saved by a good keeper Benaglio, cleared on the goalline by Ricardo Rodríguez or just not utilised by the attackers because they couldn't get their foot onto the ball. Xherdan Shaqiri showed the Honduran what the word efficacy means when he converted the few Swiss counterattacks into three goals, twice assisted by Josip Drmić. Honduras can leave Brazil with their heads up after this performance while the Swiss need to improve dramaticly. Because if they don't Lionel Messi will be delighted to boost his scoreline when Argentina and Switzerland meet next Tuesday. Thank you for your attendance, we wish you a good night!
90'		Three minutes of injury time were added, two have already past. Switzerland is almost through to the next round.
90'		After the seventh corner for Honduras it is Maynor Figueroa who goes for a goal with a shot from 30 meters. But the shot is not precise enough so that Benaglio has no problems to catch the ball.
87'		The man of the match leaves the pitch. Xherdan Shaqiri is replaced by Blerim Dzemaili.
87'		Substitution (in) Switzerland -> Blerim Dzemaili
87'		Substitution (out) Switzerland -> Xherdan Shaqiri
86'		The Honduran attackers just can't make it happen. Jerry Palacios has a next good idea. He delivers a sharp ball from the right site of the box into the center. But the unlucky Jerry Bengtson fails to get his toe to the ball once again.
84'		Noel Valladares saves another shot. This time it is Gökhan Inler who tries his luck from way outside the box but can't find a way past the Honduran keeper.
82'		But on the other site Noel Valladares doesn't hide his skills either! The Honduran keeper saves a header from Admir Mehmedi from short distance.
81'		Benaglio saves his team again! Jerry Bengtson with his third or fourth good opportunity. The Honduran forwards receives a nice cross from the left wing and heads the ball from seven meters onto the Swiss goal. Benaglio shows all his skills on the goalline and wipes the ball away!
80'		And the new Honduran man makes a good first impression! Andy Najar finds some space 17 meters away from goal. He aims for the left corner but Diego Benaglio can save the shot.
78'		Time to bring on new energy for the last minutes. Andy Najar comes in for Oscar García and on Swiss side Granit Xhaka is replaced by Michael Lang.
77'		Substitution (in) Honduras -> Andy Najar
77'		Substitution (out) Honduras -> Oscar García
77'		Substitution (in) Switzerland -> Michael Lang
77'		Substitution (out) Switzerland -> Granit Xhaka
75'		The other match between France and Ecuador is still goalless. But right now even one goal by Ecuador wouldn't by enough to hinder the Swiss on their route to the last sixteen.
73'		The man who made two assists leaves the pitch. Josip Drmić is replaced by Haris Seferović.
73'		Substitution (in) Switzerland -> Haris Seferović
73'		Substitution (out) Switzerland -> Josip Drmić
71'		Goooal for Switzerland, 0:3 by Xherdan Shaqiri Honduras with a the better opportunities but Switzerland are scoring the goals. Josip Drmić receives a fine long pass on the left wing. With a nice stepover he fools center-back Victor Bernárdez and has the time he needs to pass to Xherdan Shaqiri. The Swiss topscorer has no problem to shoot the ball past Valladares and scores a hat-trick!
67'		Again there is chaos in the Swiss box. Juan García with a fine cross from the left wing which finds the head of Brayan Beckeles at the far post. The full-back tries to head the ball into the center but hits the hand of Ricardo Rodríguez. Again this could have been a penalty for Honduras.
66'		Jerry Palacios (Honduras) is shown a yellow card First booking of the game. Palacios steps onto the foot of Fabian Schär and sees a deserved yellow card.
61'		Critical decision by referee Néstor Pitana! Jerry Palacios picks up a long ball in the Swiss box and tries to controll the ball. He crosses the run of defender Johan Djourou who slightly touches the attacker who falls to the ground. The fall was quite an easy one but there was clearly a contact which caused Palacios to get out of balance. The Swiss are lucky not to face a penalty.
57'		Xherdan Shaqiri and Admir Mehmedi play a game of cat-and-mouse with the Honduran defense! Mehmedi sends Shaqiri into the right site of the box. Shaqiri could have a shot on goal but instead slows down and makes a turn. He waits for Mehmedi who runs into the six-yard-box and receives a lovely lob by Shaqiri. But Mehmedi can't get the ball over keeper Valladares who gets a hand to the shot at the last moment.
52'		Ricardo Rodríguez saves the ball on the goalline! Again it is Jerry Bengtson who is at the end of a fine combination by Honduras. He finds himself unmarked in the Swiss box and only faces Diego Benaglio. He goes round the keeper but his shot on goal is saved by defender Ricardo Rodríguez in the last second!
48'		On the other site only inches are missing for Honduras! Palacios with a cross from the left side. In the box defender Johan Djourou thinks that forward Jerry Bengtson can't reach the ball and stays back. The defender is right in the end but Bengtson misses the ball and therefore the 1:2 by just a margin!
47'		... which is cleared by a Honduran header. The following shot by Inler from 20 meters misses the goal by a mile.
46'		The second half just started and new into the game is Marvin Chávez. He replaces Roger Espinoza. And the new man on the pitch begins his game with a foul. Freekick for Switzerland from the right wing ...
46'		Second Half begins
46'		Substitution (in) Honduras -> Marvin Chávez
46'		Substitution (out) Honduras -> Roger Espinoza
45'		Half-Time Switzerland leads with 2:0 against Honduras and is en route to the next round! The Swiss began furious and after missing the first big opportunity of the game it was Xherdan Shaqiri scoring a great goal in the 6th minute. The Swiss then pulled back and left the ball to Honduras who couldn't create any real dangerous situation for the Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio. Instead it was Shaqiri who finished a precise counterattack iniiated by Gökhan Inler and Josip Drmić in the 31th minute for his second goal. The game seems to be decided here in Manaus und because the match between Ecuador and France is still goalless the Swiss are currently in the round of the last sixteen. But one goal for Ecuador could turn the tide and then the Swiss would have to score a lot more goals in the second half!
44'		Same duel, same outcome! Again it is Josip Drmić who receives a nice pass and enters the box, this time on the right site. But keeper Noel Valladares runs out of his goal and can save the shot by the Swiss attacker.
43'		Josip Drmić with the chance to make it 3:0! The Swiss attacker is nicely put into play by Xherdan Shaqiri and finds a lot of space in the Honduran box. But receives he the ball a little bit to far to the left so his shot from a tight angle is no problem for Noel Valladares.
40'		After they conceived two goals the Honduran side now must replace one of their most important player. Forward Carlo Costly seems to have muscular problems in his right thigh and has to leave the pitch. He is replaced by Jerry Palacios.
40'		Substitution (in) Honduras -> Jerry Palacios
40'		Substitution (out) Honduras -> Carlo Costly
31'		Goooal for Switzerland, 0:2 by Xherdan Shaqiri They took their time but now the Swiss score the 2:0 with a clinical counterattack! Captain Gökhan Inler plays a stunning pass from just outside his own box to Josip Drmić who receives the ball at the centerline and picks up speed. Only one Honduran defender is left so Drmić has no problems to pass to the unmarked Shaqiri. The Swiss attacker takes his time to search for the right moment to shot the ball past keeper Valladares into the back of the net for his second goal.
28'		That hurt! Maynor Figueroa hits his teammate Jorge Claros with his right boot while jumping for a header. But after a short treatment Claros returs to the pitch.
25'		Lucky moment now for Diego Benaglio. A pass to his left full-back Ricardo Rodríguez is way to slow and interrupted by Honduras. But the Swiss defenders are on their markes and are able to clear the situation.
22'		But Honduras is getting closer! After a corner from the left Brayan Beckeles receives the ball 8 meters away from goal but faces his own goal. Unmarked by any defender he makes a quick turn and tries a shot on goal. But he hits the ball not quite good enough and the shot misses the left post by some meters.
19'		Now it is Diego Benaglio who is needed for the first in this game. But picking up an imprecise heading pass by Carlo Costly to Jerry Bengtson is not a though task at all for the Swiss keeper.
16'		Xherdan Shaqiri with his next shot! This time he tries to score another goal by taking a freekick 30 meters away from goal. But his shot is blocked by the wall and the resulting corner is no danger for Honduras.
13'		Slowly Honduras find some confidence in their actions. Since the lead the Swiss pulled back into their own half and allows the Honduran defenders and midfielders to pass the ball around until they are 35 meters in front of the Swiss goal. Then the Swiss defensive lines destroy every attack by the Honduran.
9'		It is an early blow for Honduras who seemed to be surprised by the attacking spirit of the Swiss side in the first minutes. At least Palacios has a first go at the goal of Diego Benaglio but his shot from 20 meters misses the goal by far.
6'		Goooal for Switzerland, 0:1 by Xherdan Shaqiri Three minutes ago he failed from 6 meters but now delivers from 25 meters! Xherdan Shaqiri receives the ball slightly right to the Honduran goal and makes some steps into the center. Juan García and Maynor Figueroa are watching in amazement as Shaqiri fires a shot into the top right corner of Valladares's goal. Stunning goal by the Swiss midfielder!
3'		Xherdan Shaqiri almost scores the early lead! Josip Drmić makes his first appearence in the Honduran box and leaves his defender with a nice dribbling behind his back. His pass into the center finds Shaqiri who is one foot faster than center-back Bernárdez. But Shaqiri's shot is blocked by the knee of keeper Noel Valladares.
1'		The game is underway! Switzerland is dressed all in red, Honduras wears whites jersey which are sweaty already given the temperatures and high humidity in Manaus.
1'		Kick-Off
		So history could repeat itself tonight in Manaus! Both teams are on the pitch now, the full lineups can be found here. The referee today is the Argentine Néstor Pitana. It is his third appearance at this World Cup already.
		The Honduran side made a good recovery after their 0:3 defeat in their first game against France and fought for their lives against Ecuador. Also forward Carlo Costly showed his skills in front of the goal. And even as their chances of reaching the knock-out stages are slim they still want to play a major part and prevent the Swiss side to reach the next round. Just as they did at the World Cup 2010 when both teams also meet in a decisive group game and drew 0:0. At that time that wasn't enoug for Switzerland and they had to fly home.
		Luis Suárez the coach of the Honduran side also makes two changes in comparison to the last match against Ecuador which was lost 1:2. Wilson Palacios replaces Luis Garrido in the defensive midfield and instead of Emilio Izaguirre it is Juan García who will be the left full-back tonight.
		And we will see if Hitzfeld found the right tactic to keep a clean sheet this time. He has to relinquish on center-back Steve van Bergen who broke a bone just beneave his left eye early on against France. Unlike in the last game young Fabian Schär will replace van Bergen as Philippe Senderos who was substituted against France made a bad performance back then. Hitzfeld makes another change. Forward Haris Seferovic is replaced by Josip Drmic.
		The Swiss side experienced one of the worst surprises four days ago. They were crushed 2:5 by the French team after a devastating defensive performance. This heavy defeat destroyed all euphoria after the last-minute win against Ecuador in the first game and caused harsh critic of coach Ottmar Hitzfeld and his players. The coach tried to psych up his team in the last days. We will see if he found the right words.
		Depending on how the games develop it could evolve a thrilling evening. France are almost certainly through to the knock-out stages but if they conceive a lot of goals against they could lose their advantage on goal difference over their opponents Ecuardor and Switzerland. But this is more theorical thinking. Based on the performances during the tournament so far it is more likely for France to beat Ecuador. If that happens both Switzerland and Honduras have a chance to climb onto second place if they win and score enough goals to have a better goal difference than Ecuador. Schwitzerland is two goals down, Honduras even four. But this World Cup has seen a lot of surprises until now so we shouldn't exclude any possibility.
		Commentating for you is Maximilian Rieger. Have fun!
		Decision day in Group E! Honduras and Schwitzerland are fighting in Manaus for their last chance to reach the round of the last sixteen while they have to hope that France wins against Ecuador in the other match of tonight!