Brazil win, Switzerland draw to advance at World Cup

Brazil win, Switzerland draw to advance at World Cup

Brazil's Paulinho, left, scores past Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic during the group E match at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow. (AP photo)
Brazil's Paulinho, left, scores past Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic during the group E match at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow. (AP photo)

Brazil and Switzerland advanced to the last 16 in late World Cup matches Wednesday night.

Brazil beat Serbia 2-0 to top Group E, while Switzerland secured second spot in the group with a 2-2 draw with Costa Rica.

Earlier, in Group F play, South Korea upset Germany 2-0 and sent the defending World Cup champions home, while Sweden defeated Mexico 3-0 to win the group.

The Wednesday night results set up last-16 matches early next week.

On Monday at 9pm, Brazil will face Mexico, with the match to be shown on Amarin TV. On Tuesday at 9pm, True4U 24 will broadcast the Sweden-Switzerland game.

Brazil 2, Serbia 0

Goals by Paulinho and Thiago Silva steered a much-improved Brazil to a 2-0 victory over a battling but ultimately outclassed Serbia.

The win, combined with Switzerland's 2-2 draw with Costa Rica, meant Brazil finished top of Group E on seven points, two ahead of the Swiss, who will face Sweden in the last 16. Serbia ended in third place on three points and are eliminated along with Costa Rica.

Brazil were desperate to stamp their authority on a tournament where World Cup pedigree has counted for so little.

But, having needed two goals in stoppage-time to beat Costa Rica in their last game having been held 1-1 by Switzerland in their opener, they took a long time to make any impression on a well-drilled and rugged Serbian defence.

However, after 36 minutes a superb lofted pass from just inside his own half by the outstanding Philippe Coutinho sent Paulinho clear and he stretched high to toe the ball over goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic and ease the pressure.

Neymar was again well shackled and unable to impose himself, with one dipping shot over the bar and another at the legs of Stojkovic after a lightning counter-attack his only notable contributions in the first hour.

However, while their superstar front men were making little headway at the other end, having conceded three goals in their previous 12 games, Brazil's often-overlooked defence again showed their mettle as Serbia threw more men forward.

Roared on by their outnumbered but deafening fans, striker Aleksandar Mitrovic had one instinctive reaction header blocked on the line and another well saved by Alisson as suddenly another upset seemed possible.

Switzerland 2-2 Costa Rica

Switzerland moved through to the World Cup last 16 on Wednesday, after a draw over Costa Rica but will be without captain Stephan Lichtsteiner because of suspension.

A 93rd minute own goal by the unfortunate keeper Yann Sommer from a Bryan Ruiz penalty gave the central American side a deserved 2-2 draw on a night of late drama in Nizhny Novgorod.

That wiped out a Swiss lead which had lasted only two minutes after substitute Josep Drmic slotted home to apparently give the Swiss an undeserved victory.

Earlier Blerim Dzemaili had thumped home in the first half to give Switzerland the lead against the run-of-play in the 31st minute against the team who finished bottom of Group E.

That goal was cancelled out by Kendall Waston's header in the 56th minute, the central Americans first goal of the tournament.

Switzerland will be left counting the cost after yellow cards for experienced defenders Lichtsteiner and Fabian Schaer means they will miss the game against Sweden in Saint Petersburg on July 3.

Lichtsteiner received a yellow card for a late tackle on Daniel Colindres in the 37th minute.

It was the Arsenal player's second yellow of the tournament after being booked in the opening game against Brazil.

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