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Sweden squeaks out narrow win over Switzerland

Neither team brought their shooting boots, but a fortunate deflection helped Sweden into the World Cup quarterfinal.

By Ryan McFadden and Kim McCauley Updated

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Matthew Ashton, AMA/Getty Images

Final score: Sweden 1-0 Switzerland

Switzerland generated a lot of shots on Tuesday afternoon, but couldn’t score many of them. They finished the game with just four shots on target, and Robin Olsen didn’t have a difficult save on any of them. The difference-making play was a lucky deflected shot for Emil Forsberg, though he won’t mind if it’s eventually given as an own goal.

RED CARD! Michael Lang fouls Martin Olsson

In stoppage time, with Switzerland pushing everyone forward in desperation, they give up a breakaway. Lang does the only thing he can and hauls down Olsson, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The referee initially gives a penalty, but after a VAR review, realizes the foul occurred outside the box. The red card still stands.

GOAL Emil Forsberg! Sweden 1-0 Switzerland

This looked like an own goal at first, but it’s been given as the shooter’s goal. Emil Forsberg hit a tame shot from 18 yards that would have been right at Yann Sommer, if not for the foot of his defender Manuel Akanji. The Swiss center back stuck out his foot in attempt to block the shot away, but instead deflected it into his own net.

Halftime score: Sweden 0-0 Switzerland

The fans aren’t happy with the lack of attacking between these two sides. There’s only been one great chance — the one saved by Sommer. There have actually been a decent number of shots, but the finishing quality has been sorely lacking.

30’ — Spectacular save by Yann Sommer

There hasn’t been much going on in this game, but Marcus Berg will be wondering how he didn’t score here.

Sweden will take on Switzerland in a Round of 16 match on Tuesday morning. The game will be held at the Saint Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia at 10 a.m. EST on Fox Sports 1 and Telemundo.

Sweden earned a spot in the Round of 16 after finishing first in Group F. Sweden defeated Mexico 3-0 in its last match in the group stage. Switzerland didn’t lose during Group E, but finished as the runner-up after draws with Costa Rica and Brazil.

Sweden and Switzerland lineups:

Sweden vs. Switzerland time, TV channel, and streaming info

What to read ahead of the match:

Mexico vs. Sweden left all of us emotional wrecks

The madness of the third day of Group F matches was best captured by the last few minutes of the Mexico and Sweden game. Mexico was already down, 3-0, and had no chance of coming back to win the game.

Switzerland stars Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka avoid FIFA ban for ‘Albanian Eagle’ goal celebration

Following their goals in Switzerland’s 2-1 victory over Serbia on Friday, Swiss stars Granit Xhakaand Xherdan Shaqiri both appeared to make the double eagle symbol from the Albanian flag with their hands. Serbia was upset by the gesture and asked FIFA to consider disciplinary action. FIFA opened proceedings against the pair, but decided not to suspend the players.

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