Poland defeated Switzerland 5-4 on penalties in the Round of 16 to secure their place in the quarter-finals of the Euro 2016 tournament in Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Heading into the match Poland made for changes to their squad that defeated Ukraine 1-0 in their third and final Group C encounter at the Stade Vélodrome.
Lukasz Piszczek, Krzysztof Maczynski, Jakub Blaszczykowski and Kamil Grosiki come in, in place of Thiago Cionek, Tomasz Jodlowiec, Piotr Zielinski and the suspended Bartosz Kapustka.
Meanwhile, Switzerland have made just one change, as Breel Embolo drops out for Haris Seferovic.
A horrendous mistake from Switzerland 30 seconds into the match as Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer opted to throw the ball quickly to Johan Djourou.
The former Arsenal man slipped the ball back to his keeper, Polish striker Robert Lewandowski nearly skipped in and the ball fell kindly to Arkadiusz Milik, but he smashed his effort over the bar.
The Swiss faced an onslaught of attacks from Lewandowski as he picked the ball up inside the Swiss area, but ultimately his effort was blocked by the Swiss and cleared by Fabian Schar.
The first real chance of the match came a minute later as Milik aimed his header goal-wards. The Polish striker did well to rise above the defence, but his effort was directed straight at Sommer, who makes a relatively easy save.
Just 22 minutes in and Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami opted to shoot from 40 yards, trying to catch the Polish shots-stopper off guard.
The Swiss started to grow into the Last 16 tie after a period of sustained pressure by Poland.
Four minutes later and Ricardo Rodriguez had a chance to put the Swiss ahead but his effort drifted just wide of the target from 30 yards out.
The best opportunity of the match came in the 35th minute as Schar’s headed was directed straight at Fabianski. The central defender could only head the ball into the ground and safely into the hands of the keeper.
After sustained period of Switzerland pressure, the Polish broke away to take the lead as Kamil Grosicki did well to break down the left. Milik found Blaszczykowski in space on the right, as the Fiorentina midfielder guided the ball underneath Sommer, to make it 1-0 to Poland.
Poland lead 1-0 at the break and started the better side going into the match, but were second best after going ahead with six minutes to play until the half-time interval.
Poland have never lost a match at a major tournament having led at half-time.
In quick succession Poland had a chance to double their lead when Lewandowski broke down the right, but his cross was over hit and too much for Milik to control. Seconds later, Blaszczykowski was able to get a powerful effort at goal, but Fabianski did well to save 53 minutes into the match.
Polish midfielder Krzysztof Maczynski fouled Swiss captain Stephan Lichtsteiner in the 73 minute, 25 yards out from the Poland goal. Rodriguez stepped by to take the kick but was denied by a fully stretched Fabianski, after his effort was headed straight for the top right corner.
Switzerland had an opportunity to draw the scores level in the 79th minutes as Haris Seferovic cannoned his effort off the crossbar.
Two minutes later and the Swiss levelled matters after a stunning goal from Xherdan Shaqiri from 25 yards out. The Stoke City midfielder produced a moment of pure magic, twisting in the air acrobatically and finishing off with a scissor-kick.
Milik had a last ditch opportunity to win the match for Poland from a free-kick ,25 yards out, but his effort failed to trouble Sommer, with seconds left till the full-time.
With the score locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes the first Round of 16 match between Poland and Switzerland headed into extra-time as Shaqiri tried to chip the ball over Fabianski from a tight angle, only for his effort to drift harmlessly high and wide.
Three minutes into the second-half of extra-time and Eren Derdiyok came close to putting his side ahead. With just the keeper to beat, the substitute headed goal-worth but Fabianski parried it away from danger.
Two minutes from time and Derdiyok had other opportunity to win it for the Swiss but saw his effort went just wide of goal.
Ultimately, Poland defeated Switzerland 5-4 on penalties after Krychowiak scored the winning penalty to secure his side a place in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.
PHOTO: Reuters
