DURBAN, South Africa — The World Cup needed a jolt.
Switzerland provided it.
Gelson Fernandes scored on a rare Swiss attack, giving his team a stunning 1-0 upset Wednesday over European champion and tournament favorite Spain.
The loss ended Spain’s run of 12 consecutive victories and handed the Spanish just their second loss in 50 games — the other was to the United States at the Confederations Cup in South Africa last year.
It also provided a thrill at a tournament that has seen few surprises and just 25 goals after the first game for all 32 teams.
“To be fair, I’m not used to scoring goals, so I was a bit surprised,” said Fernandes, who got just his second in international play. “It was a bit of luck.”
And tenacity.
Eren Derdiyok created Switzerland’s big chance in the 52nd minute by surging through the center of Spain’s defense and rounding Iker Casillas. Gerard Pique’s desperate tackle stopped Derdiyok, but Fernandes pounced on the loose ball and forced it into the net.
“It’s just a special moment,” he said.
Spain vastly outshot the Swiss and held the ball 63 percent of the time, but could find no way through Switzerland’s determined defense.
“Today wasn’t our day,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. “We have two games ahead of us. We have to find a way to win them.”
The victory was Switzerland’s first over Spain.
“These were three unexpected points,” Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said before defending his team’s defensive play as the only way to nullify Spain.
“If you play an attacking game against Spain, you’ll lose and suffer one goal after the next,” he said.
History was not on Spain’s side: Only two of the last eight reigning European champions had won their opening match at the World Cup — France in 1986 and Germany in 1998. And Spain has not advanced past the World Cup quarterfinals since its best finish of fourth in 1950.
Derdiyok nearly doubled the Swiss lead in the 75th minute when he shrugged off Carlos Puyol’s tackle and poked the ball past Casillas only to see the shot rebound off the post.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso came closest to equalizing when his powerful drive in the 70th minute slammed into the crossbar.
Switzerland was knocked out of the last World Cup on penalty kicks by Ukraine in the round of 16 without conceding a goal in the tournament and has gone 490 minutes in World Cup play without being scored upon.
