Mark Gonzalez cracked open Switzerland's record-breaking defence to give Chile a 1-0 victory on Monday, moving the South Americans clear at the top of Group H.

Gonzalez, who was born in South Africa, headed home a right wing cross from Esteban Paredes in the 75th minute after Chile sprung the Swiss offside trap with a counter-attack.

Just eight minutes earlier, Switzerland had set a new World Cup finals record, beating Italy's old mark of 550 minutes without conceding a goal. It was the first goal they had let in at the finals since 1994.

Switzerland played most of the match with 10 men after midfielder Valon Behrami was sent off in the 31st minute for striking a Chilean player.

The match lived up to its billing as an ugly midfield stalemate, with the Swiss crowding out centre of the pitch and smothering Chile's free-flowing attacks.

"It was a very intense match we were very much under pressure, we knew Chileans are fast, strong and on the attack and we had to use a lot of energy to fight back," Swiss coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said.

"My team did fight very hard, every single player went out of his mind to fight," he said, adding the sending off "wasn't a red card from my standpoint."

Switzerland had a chance to grab a draw in the 90th minute but Eren Derdiyok, unmarked in the middle of the penalty area, shot wide.

"We had a 100 per cent goal chance in the 90th minute and 1-1 would have been a just result," Hitzfeld said.

The draw left Chile top on six points followed by Switzerland on three then Spain and Honduras, who are both without a point.

Chile attacked the Swiss continuously and had their first chance after ten minutes when Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio was forced into a superb double save from Arturo Vidal then Carlos Carmona from long range.

"I think that we were possession of the ball most of the match, that we indeed had lots of opportunities to score one goal and had the advantage of playing with one player more," Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa said.

Chile thought they had broken the deadlock soon after the break when Alexis Sanchez's strike from 25 metres deflected off Matias Fernandez and into the net but was ruled out for offside.