Spanish Armada jolted by the Swiss

World Cup favourites Spain crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat to unfancied Switzerland in their opening game of the tournament.

A rock solid defence and a tremendous goal-keeping effort from Diego Benaglio saw the Swiss take the lead in the 51st minute through Gelson Fernandes and sustain wave after wave of pressure to hold on for the win in the Group H clash.

The victory was Switzerland’s first over Spain in 19 games dating back 85 years.

Fernandes’ scrambled goal was exactly the type pundits said the Swiss might score against a Spanish team whose slick passing game failed to convert territory and overwhelming possessional advantage into anything concrete.

A long, straight goal kick was picked up by striker Eren Derdiyok, whose path was blocked by an onrushing Iker Casillas. In the melee, the ball squirted into the path of defender Gerard Pique who fell as he twisted trying to clear the ball, and the Cape Verde-born Fernandes was left with the easiest of tap-ins.

Derdiyok could have made it two for the Swiss but saw his prod with the outside of his foot rebound off the post in the 74th minute.

Spain will be left kicking themselves after dominating much of open play, while Vicente Del Bosque’s selection policy will be questioned after the positive impact of strikers Jesus Navas and Fernando Torres off the bench.

Chile edge past Honduras

Chile secured a first World Cup win in 48 years by edging Honduras 1-0 through a late first-half goal from striker Jean Beausejour.

The Group H success ended a 13-game winless run spanning four tournaments for the Chilean ‘Reds’ since defeating Yugoslavia on June 16 1962 to finish third as hosts.

Switzerland are the next opponents for a team coached by Marcel Bielsa, who is desperate to make the second round from a pool including favourites Spain after failing to do so with his native Argentina eight years ago.

The South Americans began brightly as they sought a fourth victory in six clashes with the Hondurans and midfielder Matias Fernandez went close off a third-minute free kick.

An Argentina-born star who plays for Portuguese club Sporting Lisbon, he comfortably cleared the Honduran wall with a free kick and the ball landed on the roof of the net after dipping just too late.

Persistent Chile pressure finally paid off when slick passing outside the penalty area created space for Mauricio Isla on the right flank and his low cross was turned in by Mexico-based Beausejour.

Published in the Express Tribune, June 17th, 2010.