SAINT-ETIENNE, June 26, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Players of Poland celebrate victory after the Euro 2016 round of sixteen football match between Switzerland and Poland in Saint-Etienne on June 25, 2016. Poland won in a penalty shootout with 6-5. (Xinhua/Guo Yong)
ST ETIENNE, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Poland defeated Switzerland 5-4 on penalty shootout in the first round of 16 match of Euro 2016 here on Saturday.
Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka became the only one out of the 10 penalty takers to miss the kick, handing Poland their first quarterfinal berth in the European Championship history.
The Arsenal player directed his effort miles wide of the left post.
The two sides were deadlocked at 1-1 after 120 minutes' play.
Poland took the lead after 39 minutes, with winger Jakub Blaszczykowski sliding the ball past Swiss keeper Yann Sommer from close range. Xherdan Shaqiri made it 1-1 in the 82nd minute with a thrilling overhead kick from 18 meters.
Having been unbeaten in 21 of their last 23 international matches, Poland controlled the first half but after the interval, Switzerland looked more like the winner and created more scoring chances.
Xherdan Shaqiri, who plays for English Premier League side Stoke City, emerged very active up front. He weaved past several defenders and delivered a shot, but his powerful drive from 25 meters was punched clear by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Switzerland's best effort came in the 73rd minute when left-back Ricardo Rodriguez whipped a freekick over the wall but Fabianski got up well to turn it away.
After striker Haris Seferovic's shot had hit the woodwork, Switzerland's efforts were finally paid off. The 24-year-old Shaqiri beat Fabianski with a brilliant left-footed acrobatic effort inside the area for his first goal for his country in 11 games.
Switzerland went forward again in the extra time, probing and pressing away for a winner. Poland were apparently tired and failed to launch any effective attacks but they laughed last and best after the penalty shootout.
They will next take on either Portugal or Croatia in the quarterfinals.
