Brazil unbeaten run ends as Switzerland wins 1-0

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Brazil's 11-match unbeaten run ended Wednesday as Dani Alves' headed own goal gifted Switzerland a 1-0 victory in a friendly.

The Brazil right back was under no pressure when he guided a 48th-minute floated cross by Swiss forward Haris Seferovic into the top left corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper Jefferson helpless.

Brazil star Neymar had a frustrating match, enduring some tough challenges before being shown a yellow card in the 23rd for a hard tackle on defender Stephan Lichtsteiner.

"He went in to hurt," Lichtsteiner told Swiss broadcaster RTS. "The victory was deserved. We showed that if we have space to play, we're a super team. Keeping a clean sheet against a team like that, it's really special."

Neymar's inswinging cross from the left wing in the 38th created Brazil's best opportunity but Paulinho's header clipped the top of the Swiss crossbar.

World Cup host Brazil had won its six previous matches, including five at the Confederations Cup to win the warm-up event in June.

Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's team was last beaten in February, 2-1 away to England. The unbeaten streak ended in Switzerland where it began in March when drawing 2-2 with Italy in Geneva.

Switzerland stretched its unbeaten run to 10 matches since May 2012.

The two teams could meet again at the World Cup. Switzerland is unbeaten in qualifying and leads its group by four points with four matches remaining.

The match paired the last two teams to beat world and European champion Spain in competitive matches: Brazil won 3-0 in the Confederations Cup final, and the Swiss earned a 1-0 upset in a 2010 World Cup group match.

A testy first half-hour showed little signs of friendliness, and Neymar was booked for letting his irritation show.

The Barcelona forward was cynically pulled back in the 11th when skipping past defender Philippe Senderos who was booked.

Neymar soon lashed out at Valon Behrami, protesting he was first elbowed by the Swiss midfielder. He was booked in the 23rd for a rough challenge on right-back Lichtsteiner. Behrami was shown a yellow card in the melee of players that followed.

When Brazil's football flowed, Hulk's shot with his weaker right foot was saved by onrushing goalkeeper Diego Benaglio.

Oscar almost finished off a swift break following a Swiss corner in the 44th, but clipped his shot too high when found by Hulk's clever pass.

Switzerland was bright in attack and tested goalkeeper Jefferson with accurate long-range shooting.

Xherdan Shaqiri was twice denied by diving saves, in the 19th and 43rd minutes, and the Botafogo 'keeper almost spilled Granit Xhaka's 27th-minute drive over the goal line.

Jefferson could do nothing three minutes into the second half when Dani Alves rose to place an intended headed clearance of Seferovic's cross high into the Brazil goal.

Seferovic threatened twice more within minutes, firing a shot too high when clear, then putting Jefferson under pressure in front of goal when the keeper badly misjudged a back pass.

Hulk almost leveled in the 62nd but fired his first-time shot just over the goal from 15 meters (yards).

Shaqiri fired just too high again in the 67th as the Bayern Munich attacker showed himself equal to Neymar on the night.