Iceland beat Albania to go second in Group E

Iceland frustrated Switzerland for the second time in four days, their 2-1 win at home against Albania meaning that Ottmar Hitzfeld's side cannot be sure of winning FIFA World Cup qualifying Group E until October.

Iceland came from 4-1 down to secure a remarkable 4-4 draw in Berne on Friday and moved up to second place in this section after trailing to Albania. Birkir Bjarnason and Kolbeinn Sigthórsson responded with strikes after Valdet Rama had put Albania into a ninth-minute lead with an accurate shot.

It was a disappointing start for Lars Lagerbäck's side, but they responded admirably, Birkir Sævarsson picking out new UC Sampdoria signing  Bjarnason to finish from close range on 14 minutes. The turnaround was completed two minutes after the interval when Sigthórsson – one of the scorers in Berne – got a heel to another incisive Sævarsson pass.

The result leaves Iceland with a theoretical chance of stealing top spot from Switzerland, but a more tangible opportunity of making it to the play-offs, with games against Cyprus and Norway to come in October.

"We came looking for three points, ran like crazy and gave everything we had and got our reward for that: a well-earned victory," said AFC Ajax striker Sigthórsson.