Poland sink Swiss on penalties

ETIENNE, France: Poland beat Switzerland 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to reach the European Championship quarter-finals for the first time following a riveting last-16 clash that ended 1-1 after extra time here on Saturday.

Grezgorz Krychowiak drilled in the winning spot-kick after Granit Xhaka had missed Switzerland’s second penalty to send the Polish fans at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium into raptures.

Jakub Blaszczykowski gave Poland a 39th-minute lead before Xherdan Shaqiri equalised with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 82nd to send the match into a dramatic climax.

Poland should have gone ahead inside the first minute when Arkadiusz Milik sent his shot over a gaping goal following a calamitous defensive mix-up.

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski was subdued in the first half but his team created chances thanks to livewire left winger Kamil Grosicki and equally good work by Blaszczykowski on the other flank.

Swiss captain Stephan Lichsteiner could not keep up with Grosicki, who fired over the bar from 18 metres.

Blaszczykowski broke the deadlock with a composed finish from 10 metres after a darting run by Grosicki and a clever dummy from Milik gave the winger time and space to pick his spot.

With playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri and striker Haris Seferovic totally stifled by Poland’s rock-solid defence, Switzerland created little up front in the opening period despite roaring “Go Suisse” chants by their supporters.

The Swiss came out with renewed purpose in the second half and Shaqiri finally showed a glimpse of his immense talent with a dazzling solo run and a stinging shot which goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski parried.

Blaszczykowski had Yann Sommer at full stretch as the pace increased with Switzerland throwing men forward.

Shaqiri produced a moment of magic with one of the best goals of the tournament in the 82nd minute, twisting his body in the air to unleash a fierce shot which gave Fabianski no chance as it went in off the post.

Galvanised by the goal, Switzerland took the upper hand and dominated the additional 30 minutes, forcing several desperate clearances by the Polish defence, which had conceded in only one other match in 2016.

Substitute Eren Derdiyok missed a sitter for the Swiss when Fabianski kept out his close-range header but a rattled Poland somehow held on to force the shoot-out.