Switzerland 2 Portugal 0: Swiss stun Euro 2016 champions despite Granit Xhaka’s red card
Goals from Breel Embolo and Admir Mehmedi meant the hosts kick-start their World Cup qualifying campaign with three points
PORTUGAL suffered a Euro 2016 hangover with a disappointing 2-0 defeat against ten-man Switzerland.
The European champions struggled to break down a resolute Swiss defence as the home side kick-started their World Cup qualifying campaign with three impressive points but saw Arsenal's Granit Xhaka see red for two yellow cards in the dying stages.
Without Cristiano Ronaldo and Renato Sanchez, Portugal started the brighter of the two sides but found themselves behind after 23 minutes through powerful forward Breel Embolo.
Ricardo Rodriguez's free-kick from just outside the area was poorly parried by Rui Patricio right into the path of Embolo who simply headed the ball into the net.
And just seven minutes later, Portugal had a mountain to climb when Admir Mehmedi's wonderful finish gave his side a 2-0 lead to send St Jakob-Park rocking.
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Portugal lost the ball in midfielder leaving Mehmedi to break forward. He sprayed the ball to Haris Seferovic on the right whose low cross fell into the path of Mehmedi only for the striker to pick his spot and curl the ball out of the keeper's reach.
Portugal boss Fernando Santos made two changes at half-time introducing Andre Silva and Joao Mario as the away side pushed for a way to get back into the game.
They dominated possession and nearly had their reward when Jose Fonte drilled a low shot wide of the right post after the hosts failed to clear.
With just nine minutes left on the clock, former Manchester United winger Nani missed an absolute sitter when it looked easier to score.
Ricardo Quaresma whipped in an inviting ball and all it took was for Nani to head in from a few yards out however the ball hit his shoulder and clattered the post.
In the dying seconds of the match, Xhaka lunged in on Quaresma and was shown his second yellow card.