Steven Zuber goal sees Switzerland earn a draw against Brazil

Switzerland have come from behind to deny Brazil in their opening World Cup match.

Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring with a world-class curler but a defensive lapse let Steven Zuber in to head in from close range.

Paulinho should have put Brazil ahead 12 minutes in. The ball bounced around the box after some good build-up play and fell to the Barcelona man but Yann Sommer tipped the shot round the post.

Coutinho did give Brazil the lead eight minutes later, though, and in some style too. A Brazil attack down the left eventually fell to the number 11 on the corner of the penalty area and he curled it into the far top corner.

Gabriel Jesus could have doubled Brazil’s lead but failed to get his header on target after a good Neymar cross before Thiago Silva headed over the bar in first-half stoppage time.

Zuber got his leveller five minutes after the restart after Brazil gave away a cheap corner. Six Brazil defenders in the six-yard box failed to clear and Xherdan Shaqiri found Zuber to head in from close range.

Brazil struggled to breach the Switzerland defence on their hunt for a winner with Coutinho firing well wide and Neymar failing to get the ball past the first man from a free-kick.

They sprung into life 15 minutes from time and had a succession of chances to win it. Fernandinho fired over and Gabriel Jesus had a penalty appeal turned down when he went down under the challenge of Manuel Akanji.

Roberto Firmino replaced Jesus for the final 10 minutes and caused problems down the right but fired wide.

Neymar should have won the match in the 88th minute when he was found unmarked in the area but his header was straight at Sommer. Brazil continued into stoppage time and Sommer had to pull off a superb save to deny Firmino down low.

One last chance came and went as Miranda’s shot from the edge of the area went just past the post.

Cover Photo: FIFA World Cup 2014 by Mariya Butd used under license by CC BY 2.0.