WORLD CUP ROUNDUP: Spain stunned by Switzerland
Published 10:28 pm Wednesday, June 16, 2010
DURBAN, South Africa — The World Cup needed a jolt. Switzerland provided one.
Gelson Fernandes scored on a rare Swiss attack, giving his team a stunning 1-0 upset Wednesday over European champion and tournament favorite Spain.
The loss ended Spain’s run of 12 straight wins and handed the Spaniards just their second loss in 50 games — the other was to the United States at the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year.
It also provided a thrill at a tournament that has seen few surprises and just 25 goals after the first game for all 32 teams.
“To be fair, I’m not used to scoring goals, so I was a bit surprised,” said Fernandes, who got just his second in international play. “It was a bit of luck.”
And tenacity. Eren Derdiyok created Switzerland’s big chance in the 52nd minute by surging through the center of Spain’s defense. Gerard Pique’s desperate tackle stopped Derdiyok, but Fernandes pounced on the loose ball and kicked it into the net.
Spain badly outshot the Swiss and held the ball 63 percent of the time, but could find no way through Switzerland’s determined defense.
“Today wasn’t our day,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “We have two games ahead of us. We have to find a way to win them.”
It won’t be a gimme. Well-regarded Chile beat Honduras 1-0 in the other Group H opener Wednesday.
The win was Switzerland’s first over Spain.
At the final whistle, Fernandes fell to his knees and raised both arms to the sky. The entire team then went to the small section of Swiss fans in the Moses Mabhida Stadium and saluted them as the fans cheered and rang alpine cow bells. “These were three unexpected points,” Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.
Chile 1, Honduras 0
NELSPRUIT, South Africa — Jean Beausejour scored the only goal and Chile beat Honduras for its first World Cup victory in exactly 48 years. This is Chile’s first World Cup since 1998, when three draws sent it into the second round.
Uruguay 3, South Africa 0
PRETORIA, South Africa — Diego Forlan scored two goals, helping Uruguay to a victory that pushed South Africa closer to being the first host nation to go out in the opening round of a World Cup.
