On target: Chile's Mark Gonzalez scores with just over ten minutes remaining Mark Gonzalez finally broke the deadlock to leave Chile on the verge of qualifying for the last 16 of the World Cup.
The South Americans need just one point against Spain in their final group game to ensure making it out of Group H.
Switzerland were reduced to ten men just past the half hour mark after West Ham's Valon Behrami was shown a straight red for elbowing Jean Beausejour.
And despite a host of chances for Chile, it looked as though the Swiss would hold out for a well-fought draw.
But the former Liverpool man Gonzalez scored the decisive goal with a perfectly placed header with just 15 minutes remaining.
Moment of madness: Switzerland were forced to play with ten men for over an hour after Valon Behrami was shown a straight redIn the meantime their task had increased markedly when Behrami, having tangled with Jean Beausejour, did so with Vidal and saw the midfielder go to ground clutching his face.
Referee Khalil Al Ghamdi had little hesitation in producing a red card and the Swiss were very much on the back foot.
In truth, they had been already for much of the first half with Chile's midfield trio of Vidal, Carmona - who will miss the final group game against Spain after picking up a second booking - and Matias Fernandez repeatedly causing problems.
Ineffective: Switzerland's Alex Frei was withdrawn after a disappointing performance Switzerland offered little in response and skipper Alex Frei, who missed the opening game through injury, departed before the break having struggled to make an impact.
Sanchez in particular made a nuisance of himself as the South Americans stepped up a gear in the wake of Behrami's exit, although the Swiss just about held firm.
Chile thought they had taken the lead within three minutes of the restart when Sanchez blasted home a shot with the help of a significant deflection, but an offside flag correctly halted his celebrations in their infancy.
Benaglio needed to be at his best once again with 55 minutes gone when defender Stephane Grichting gifted the ball to Sanchez, who raced in on goal but could not beat the goalkeeper one-on-one.
Half-time substitute Gonzalez headed over from a Fernandez corner but, as the game became increasingly bad-tempered, Fernandez, who will also miss the Spain game, Gokhan Inler and Gary Medel were all cautioned in quick succession.
Grichting made a fine 69th-minute block to deny substitute Esteban Paredes, but it was he who did the damage with 15 minutes remaining when he rounded Benaglio and crossed for Gonzalez to power a downward header in off the underside of the bar.
The lively Paredes might have doubled his side's advantage twice within the final six minutes but was unable to hit the target on either occasion, and Swiss substitute Eren Derdiyok passed up a glorious opportunity to level with seconds remaining when he fired wide.
Chile's Mark Gonzalez, second from left, celebrates with fellow team members after scoring a goal as Switzerland's Gokhan Inler, second from right, reacts during the World Cup group H soccer match between Chile and Switzerland at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Monday, June 21, 2010. Chile won 1-0.
Chile's striker Alexis Sanchez (L) fights for the ball with Switzerland's goalkeeper Diego Benaglio during the Group H first round 2010 World Cup football match Chile vs Switzerland on June 21, 2010 at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Switzerland's goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (L) concedes a goal during the 2010 World Cup Group H match against Chile at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth June 21, 2010.
Switzerland's Steve Von Bergen clears the ball away in front of team mate goalkeeper Diego Benaglio (L) and Chile's Alexis Sanchez (R) during the 2010 World Cup Group H match at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth June 21, 2010.
Chile's Mark Gonzalez, center, celebrates with a teammate after scoring during the World Cup group H soccer match between Chile and Switzerland at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Monday, June 21, 2010.
Referee Khalil Al Ghamdi of Saudi Arabia shows the yellow card to Chile's Gary Medel (L) during a 2010 World Cup Group H match against Switzerland at Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth June 21, 2010.source: dailymail
photo: AP, Gettyimages