Liveblog: Switzerland vs. Ukraine

We’re liveblogging the full 90 minutes of the Switzerland and Ukraine second round match. Come in and join us with your comments and thoughts before, during and after the game.

Final: Switzerland 0-0 Ukraine (AET) 1-3 Penalties

Ukraine Pen #4: Gusiev hits his penalty into the corner, sending the keeper the wrong way and sending Ukraine into the quarter-finals.

Swiss penalty #3: Cabanas misses. Great save by the keeper but Switzerland look awful at penalties.

Ukraine Pen #3: Rebrov steps up and strokes it home well.

Swiss penalty #2: Barnetta hits the crossbar! He misses.

Ukraine Pen #2: Milevskiy scores! Nice, cocky chip penalty.

Swiss penalty #1: Streller steps up and has his saved too. Knocked it down the middle and Shovkovskiy saves comfortably.

Ukraine Pen #1: Shevchenko has his penalty saved by Zuberbuehler.

Penalties: The coin has been tossed and the players have put their hands up. Let the lottery begin. Someone will be a hero and another a goat.

Full-time AET: The game is over and penalties will follow. Each team will have 5 attempts from 12 yards until someone misses. This game yielded few chances, mostly in the first half. it was a torrid affair for the spectators, but now we have the excitement of pens - the first in LiveBlog history. Woohoo!

119:04 - Final push by the Swiss, peppering the box with passes but no penetration. Shelayev takes a knock on the edge of the area from Streller’s follow-through and takes a wee break on the floor.

117:11 - Swiss doing a much better job of holding on to possession in the last few minutes. Ukraine must be tired.

115:45 - Frei will not get to take a pen as he makes way for Lustrinelli. Maybe he sucks as bad as he does when taking chances in open play.

114:22 - Streller bursts into the box with a great run. He turns his man and is about to get his shot away, but Gusin makes a deparate and well-timed tackle. More chances coming now in the final minutes.

113:21 - Ukraine has a shot onthe edge of the area blocked. Shot of the Swiss bench where the wonderfully named Lustrinelli is about to come on. Forward players to take the penalties by the look.

111:10 - Milevskiy shows some class (and fresh legs) beating his player down the line but his cross is blocked before it gets dangerous.

109:38 - Foul at midfield provides the chance for Ukraine to make a substitution. Voronin is the unfortunate player. Milevskiy better be better at penalties cos that’s where this game is going.

107:26 - Streller is a leggy forward in the Peter Crouch mould. He earns a corner for Switzerland which bobbles around in the box for a bit before being knocked wide.

105:35 - Shevchenko falls over weakly in the corner but earns the free kick like the professional he is. Danger is cleared by a fist of Zuberbuehler.

Extra-time turnaround: There’s the obligatory wasting of time as players take on water and get coaching advice before switching sides “immediately” to start the second half of extra time.

105:09 - One extra minute of the first extra time period. Players are looking tired. Tackles are kinda weak and not quite timed.

103:33 - The ref decides not to blow for what looks like a foul on Streller right on the edge of the area. Replay shows he was correct. Streller hopping like a cat on a hot tin roof before any contact was made.

101:53 - The crowd trying to get something going by chanting Hopp Suisse! In response, the team plays the offside trap against Ukraine successfully.

99:50 - Vogel takes a volleyed shot from the edge of the area after the ball breaks to him from a long throw-in. His shot is well struck but straight at the Ukraine keeper who saves well.

98:41 - Conditions are perfect out there but neither team can string more than a couple passes together before a bad touch or mis-directed pass changes possession. Very frustrating to watch because we know both can do better.

96:43 - Free kick for the Swiss 40 yards out right in front. Frei hits it right into the wall. The ball breaks wide where Wicky knocks it over. Barnetta heads it back across the face but Cabanas misses his header completely and the danger is past.

95:38 - Nice work down the right side by Degen and Barnetta, who crosses into the area. Calls for handball in the box, but the replay shows it was Frei’s hand the ball hit.

94:23 - Frei gets a slight knock and goes down like a sack of spuds. He jumps up all full of passion and heat, calling for a card from the ref. Nice to see someone down there who cares.

93:02 - Vorobey comes off to make way for Rebrov. He looked good in the game against Saudi Arabia.

92:00 - More of the same so far from these teams. Fatigue will play a factor as extra time progresses and perhaps a defensive mistake will make us cheer.

Coin-toss: Stadium PA is playing 500 Miles by The Proclaimers. I wish I was 500 miles away from watching this game.

Full-time: - The whistle blows on this one and no score. Extra time will follow shortly and I’ll be taking a few shots of caffiene to keep myself awake. Let’s hope Jon Lithgow has some tricks up his sleeve for the Swiss to take them onwards.

91:03 - Swtizerland showing some last vestiges of enterprise with a nice low cross across the face of goal, 6 yards out. No one there to connect and no Ukrainian could be convinced to stick out a toe and poke it home.

90:10 - Where did they get 3 minutes of injury time???? That’s an insult to my injury. Eye injury from watching these teams.

89:01 - Zuberbuehler flaps at a corner kick but can’t do enough to turn it into his own goal. Pity.

88:00 - Whistles throughout the crowd. They can’t wait for this

one to end either. But wait! Extra time beckons. Another 30 minutes of defensive power!

85:55 - Grichting got his head bumped by his own player during the penalty area scramble and has been stretchered off.

84:19 - I nearly got my wish. Voronin chests down a speculative long ball on the ege of the area and throws his arm over the Swiss defender while trying to get to the ball. The Swiss defender (Grichting) throws his arm over and appears to drag Voronin down. Looks like the ref made the correct no-call.

83:00 - This is one game that I’d be happy to see a last second penalty given. The ref has done a fantastic job letting the players get on with it. Too bad they haven’t taken him up on his offer.

80:40 - Ref calls play on after a Ukraine player uses his arm to control the ball. If he’d used his chest, he might not have gifted it to a Swiss player, who to be honest, did nothing with it.

78:32 - Vashchuk is felled on the edge of the Ukraine area by a studs up takle by Barnetta who is lucky not to get a yellow card for the challenge. Slo-mo replay shows he never intended to get to the ball and gave Vashchuk a good hack.

76:35 - A minute or two of aerial ping-pong with the ball going nowhere. Players flopping about but the ref letting play go on. I kinda wish he’d just blow time and take us straight to penalties.

74:56 - Kalinichenko comes off to be replaced by Rotan.

74:01 - Ukraine have a corner after Degen is unsure what to do with a bad cross. Gusin gets his head to the corner kick and it scrapes by the far post by a coat of paint. Decent chance.

72:13 - Cabanas is dragged down by Shelayev and Switzerland has a chance to set up a free kick about 40 yards out and at a slight angle. The shot comes in but is over the bar and with no real venom.

69:40 - 25 minutes gone in the half and nary a piece of work for either goalkeeper to do. The crowd showing it’s paying attention by once again chanting Lukas Podolski’s name.

68:17 - Cabanas’ turn to try a long range effort. It sails high and wide. At least he’s trying I guess.

66:34 - Just as I was bagging the guy he produces a moment of magic. Receives the ball on the right wing, dribbles inside and conjures a wicked shot from nothing. It blasts just wide of the upright with the Swiss keeper rooted to the spot.

65:10 - All of Ukraine’s half chances seem to be falling to Voronin. Sheva is basically invisible unless he’s whinging. Chelsea must be happy with their purchase based on his performances so far this World Cup.

63:13 - The excitement of the moment is over and the boredom continues. Nesmachniy returns the field. Hakin Yakin is replaced by Marco Streller. A straight swap, more or less.

61:01 - Ukraine player lies dead on the field after a collision with Cabanas. Nesmachniy had his leg stomped on but it didn’t look intentional. The Magic Spray is out and no doubt Nesmachniy will be fine in a minute or two. Stretcher-bearers finally get to do their job. Well done, lads.

59:23 - Sheva’s free kick hits the wall. Replay shows it hit the forearm of Cabanas. Tough call there. The arm was protecting Cabanas’ body but he did stick his arm out towards the ball. Either way the ref didn’t see it or didn’t call it. Play on.

58:13 - First yellow card of the game for Barnetta. He brought down Nesmachniy from behind as the Ukraine full-back was about to breach the Swiss penalty area. Nice position for a free kick.

56:03 - In the midst of all the celebrity spotting in the crowd, some football was played, but nothing really happened. Frei chased a ball into the Ukraine area, but only succeeded in kicking the ball further away for a goal kick. He was nice and threw it back. Maybe he should be a ball-boy.

54:01 - On the back of the Platini Sighting there is a concurrent Beckenbauer/Blatter Sighting. I’m sure Der Kaiser would rather be sitting next to his wife than Sepp, who I bet makes Franz buy his beers.

53:13 - Platini Sighting in the crowd. He’s been almost as busy as Beckenbauer showing up at games, but I bet he didn’t get married too.

51:41 - Voronin receives a pass to the top of the area and turns his man nicely to make a small run laterally across the area. He shoots on the half turn hoping to surprise the Swiss keeper, but Zuberbuehler has been playing attention and scoops up the weak shot.

49:47 - Swiss crowd in fine voice, urging their team on to victory. They’ll have to get a shot on goal for that to happen.

48:16 - Yakin commits a foul in midfield. It’s the most exciting event in the last two minutes as both teams share possession.

46:01 - First chance of the half falls to Voronin who battles to get a header away in the box. Just off target though.

45:01 - Second half underway and let’s cross fingers and toes for some goals.

Half-time: Not a super exciting half of football, but free of controversy and that’s a bonus considering all that’s gone before. The best chances of the half came from set pieces with both teams hitting the crossbar - Ukraine with Sheva’s header and Switzerland with Frei’s dipping free kick.

I’m hoping for an early goal in the second half to liven this game up, but if you tell me now that it will be 0-0 AET and we’re going to penalties, I would not think you were crazy.

45:39 - Swiss defence shows up big again as Gusev makes a dashing run down the right. The ball bobbles about on the edge of the area, but eventually cleared with not even a half chance falling Ukraine’s way. The Swiss have not given up a goal in 3.5 World Cup matches so far and have looked very solid tonight. If only their offence packed the same punch.

43:29 - Almost an entire half without the ref reaching for his pocket. I’m impressed. But then again, these teams haven’t really shown much in the way of aggression. I can’t tell if they’re just concerned about making a mistake that costs a goal or if they just have no clue how to break the other down.

40:17 - Degen is now a villain as he hacks down Nesmachniy. The Ukraine player is laid out and has not moved. Even though he’s one body roll away from the sideline, the stretcher-bearers make their obligatory appearance. Those guys must be the most frustrated folks in the stadium. Every chance they get to actually do their jobs, the player pops right back up and continues.

38:34 - Philipp Degen does well down the right, breaking a tackle and centering the ball nicely to the open Swiss player (Vogel?). he chests it down and the ball sits up nicely for a volley but it’s mis-hit and goes harmlessly wide.

36:43 - Game once more devolving into midfield scraps. Gagnin breaks free momentarily and sends an early cross in from the left. It’s too high for Frei though and sails over the keeper’s head too.

33:01 - After giving him props, Djourou is substituted. Not sure if that is an injury as he looked fine coming off the field. Grichting takes his place for the Swiss.

32:39 - Chanting in the crowd sounded a bit like they were calling Lukas Podolski’s name. Lot’s of bored German fans in the crowd, or does everyone just love the sweet-smelling guy.

30:38 - Mueller gets a shot away from outside the area, but is easily saved. Nice build-up work, sheilding the ball, from Wicky to set him up.

28:51 - Scramble on the edge of the Swiss area and the ball falls to Shelayev but his shot is scooped high over the bar. Best chances falling to Ukraine right now.

27:08 - Ukraine has started to put some pressure on, doing well when they have possession. Kalinichenko has looked busy and had a hal-chance with his shot from the edge of the area that curled well wide in the end. Shevchenko bitched him out afterwards as usualy. Unless the ball is planted right on his head, he’s never happy.

25:03 - Nice build-up play from Ukraine. A wide ball releases Gusev but his low cross cannot find a team-mate, even though he had two to aim for. Keeper Zuberbuehler saves.

24:15 - No chances coming from open play as yet. Both set pieces, however, have been of high quality and we could easily be at 1-1 now instead of 0-0.

21:56 - Trip by Shelayev on Barnetta as he was charging towards goal. That could easily have been a booking for a professional foul. Frei hammers the free kick ove the wall and rocks the Ukraine crossbar near the post junction. The ball bounces back out but no rebound shot is on target. Great chance for the Swiss.

19:46 - Free kick for Ukraine on the left wing after Voronin is rugby tackled by Djourou. The swinging free kick finds Sheva in the box and his diving header bounces up and hits the crossbar. Great chance for Ukraine but no goal.

18:11 - Chances are still thin on the ground, still 0-0 in this game. The Swiss are defending well and in numbers, Ukraine doing a good job of nullifying Frei. The spark in this game looks to be coming from Yakin and Voronin running from deeper positions.

16:03 - Referee’s headset is dangling all over the place. He might want to tape that puppy up. Having said that, we haven’t had a yellow (or a red) card in this game yet so maybe it’s stopping him from hearing the instructions from FIFA to book everyone under the sun. Play on!

14:32 - John Lithgow on the bench for the Swiss again. I wonder if he allows dancing in the Swiss dressing room or if that’s the Devil’s Work. Just like elbows in football, according to Sepp.

12:38 - Wicky wakes us all up with a great shot from distance outside the corner of the 18 yard box. He draws a solid and acrobatic save from Shovkovskiy.

11:15 - Game being battled out in midfield right now, no clear chances or domination by either team. Final ball to dangerous areas has been lacking.

09:20 - Not that I want Swizterland to blast 5 goals past Ukraine like Spain did, but boy am I in the mood for some goals. The Round of 16 games so far have been pretty lean. Mexico-Argentina was worth the wait, but otherwise a solitary goal a game is not giving me what I need to fall in love with the World Cup all over again. Oh… that and the referees.

08:17 - I really wish Ukraine had gone with Shust in goal tonight. Shovkovskiy may be the first choice, but his name is way harder to type in a hurry.

06:36 - Yakin charges foward from midfield and squeezes off a long distance drive. It bobbles to the Ukraine keeper with no danger.

05:24 - Johan Djourou replacing the injured Senderos in the Swiss defence tonight. The 19 year old is considered pretty darn good. He’ll get a stern test in his first full World Cup start.

03:23 - Yakin breaks into the Ukraine box with a sharp run. His low cross is half cleared before it reaches Frei in the middle. Nice speed in the Swiss attack.

01:36 - Voronin breaks down the middle with a wide player screaming for the ball. His pass has the right idea but blocked by the Swiss. Nice early pressure from Ukraine.

00:20 - Referee today is from Mexico. I’ll be hoping for a good game from him. I’m still gutted after the Italy-Australia debacle.

00:01 - We’re off! Ukraine looking like they’re putting out a 3-5-2 formation, Switzerland a more traditional 4-4-2.

National Anthems: Good to see Yakin still in the Swiss side. He’s been creative and active. Kalinichenko and Voronin have looked sharp for Ukraine and ready to get goals if Shevchenko can’t find it.

5 minutes to go: Whatever happens this match, let’s hope we see a referee who does not influence the result, unlike what we’ve seen so far in 3 of the 4 Round of 16 games we’ve seen thus far.

Pre-game: Who is going to win?
Tough game to call. Both teams have shown they deserve their place in the second round. Switzerland with tough defense, and Ukraine with important goals when they count most. But Switzerland will be without young Senderos, their best defender who popped his shoulder in the game against South Korea. Ukraine will also be without their defensive lynchpin Rusol who picked up his second yellow in the final group game.

With holes to fill in defence, perhaps we will see a more open attacking game. Shevchenko is getting back to full match fitness and Alex Frei surely cannot continue to miss as many chances as he does every game.