Drmic and Shaqiri help Swiss see sink Lithuania

• Switzerland three points clear of third-ranked Slovenia after fourth straight win
• Fiodor Černych opens scoring for hosts on 64 minutes
• Josip Drmic levels five minutes later from close range
• Xherdan Shaqiri wins it with his fourth Group E goal
• Next qualifiers: Estonia v Lithuania, Switzerland v Slovenia (5 September)

Switzerland enhanced their prospects of UEFA EURO 2016 qualification after coming from behind to run out 2-1 victors against Lithuania in Vilnius.

Igoris Pankratjevas' side saw little of the ball before shocking their visitors when Fiodor Černych produced a clinical finish on 64 minutes. However, Lithuania's joy was short-lived as Josip Drmic levelled with a close-range finish five minutes later, before Xherdan Shaqiri wrapped up victory with a cool strike with six minutes remaining – to leave Switzerland three points clear of Slovenia in second place in Group E.

The Swiss set off in quest of their fourth successive win in the section lifted by news of Slovenia's 3-2 loss to England, and they dominated the early exchanges, Drmic firing over a presentable chance from inside the area. The hosts then squandered the best opening of the half; Johan Djourou conceded possession inside his own half and Vykintas Slivka was able to run through on goal, the 20-year-old Juventus midfielder denied only by the feet of the visitors' No1 Yann Sommer.

Lithuania goalkeeper Emilijus Zubas got down well to save a Ricardo Rodriguez drive in the approach to half-time, before producing a superb stop after the break to thwart Drmic's low effort. Then, eight minutes later, the hosts took the lead as Černych received an Egidijus Vaitkūnas cross from the left, rolled the challenge of Djourou and fired in a low effort for his second international goal.

The creative endeavours of Granit Xhaka and Shaqiri had brought few chances thus far, but on 69 minutes the latter delivered a menacing cross from the right which Fabian Schär headed across goal to leave Drmic to tap in. Shaqiri then thought he had scored before seeing the offside flag raised, only to register legitimately as he raced onto a pass from substitute Breel Embolo and steered a low finish into the bottom left corner for his fourth strike of the group stage.