Switzerland left it late as they struggled to a 2-0 win over a defensive, experimental Peru on Tuesday in their final friendly before the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Rightback Stephan Lichtsteiner broke the deadlock in the Swiss city of Lucerne with a looping header in the 78th minute before Xherdan Shaqiri, who sat out the first hour, added the second five minutes later.
Until then, Switzerland had carved out precious few chances against the South American side, who came without top players such as Bayern Munich striker Claudio Pizarro, Schalke 04 forward Jefferson Farfan and Eintracht Frankfurt centerback Carlos Zambrano.
Photo: EPA
Ricardo Rodriguez was Switzerland’s most lively player in the first half and the leftback’s pile-driver free-kick was parried from under the bar by goalkeeper George Forsyth.
Peru were confident in possession, but only threatened once in the first when Paolo Hurtado’s shot was blocked by Diego Benaglio.
There was little change in the second half as the Swiss continued to labor while a noisy contingent of about 1,000 Peru fans armed with bicycle horns and drums made more noise than the 14,000 home supporters.
Photo: EPA
However, the hosts finally broke through when Rodriguez crossed from the left and Lichtsteiner headed into the top corner. Six minutes later, a long ball was floated over the Peru defense to Shaqiri and he scored through Forsyth’s legs.
In another World Cup warm-up on Tuesday, Greece were held to a goalless draw by Nigeria in Pennsylvania in which both sides had chances, but lacked a clinical edge.
Greece’s Ioannis Fetfatzidis twice forced good saves out of Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama in the first half, but it was the African side who finished stronger.
Photo: AFP
Ogenyi Onazi’s powerful effort was superbly saved by substitute Greece goalie Stephanos Kapinos and in the final moments, Victor Moses drove a low shot just wide.
Nigeria next face the US on Saturday for their final World Cup tuneup, while Greece take on Bolivia in New Jersey tomorrow.
In Brazil, Greece face Colombia, Ivory Coast and Japan in Group C, while Nigeria take on Iran, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Argentina.
In Tuesday’s other friendlies, Austria edged the Czech Republic 2-1, while the United Arab Emirates blanked Georgia 1-0.
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