Switzerland erupt late to crush 10-man Bosnia 4-1 and seize control of Group B
Substitute Johan Manzambi scored twice in a frantic finish at the SoFi Stadium as Switzerland turned a tight contest into a rout, taking a giant stride towards the World Cup knockout rounds.
Switzerland produced a stunning late surge to beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-1 at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, four goals in the closing quarter of an hour transforming a taut, even contest into an emphatic statement. For long stretches this was a game in the balance. By the final whistle it had become a rout, and Switzerland sit top of Group B with one foot already in the knockout stages.
The match turned on a moment of brilliance and a moment of madness. Substitute Johan Manzambi broke the deadlock on 74 minutes with a superb finish, and from there the contest tilted decisively. When Tarik Muharemovic was sent off on 80 minutes for a reckless foul on Breel Embolo, Bosnia were left to hold on with ten men, and they could not.
The floodgates open
Ruben Vargas added the second on 84 minutes, punishing the numerical advantage, before the finish descended into chaos. Ermin Mahmic pulled one back for Bosnia in the 93rd minute to briefly raise hopes of a nervy ending, but Switzerland answered almost immediately. Manzambi struck again to complete his brace and kill the game, and captain Granit Xhaka rolled in a penalty deep into stoppage time to round off a remarkable swing. From 0-0 with a quarter of an hour to play to 4-1 at the death, it was as ruthless a finish as this tournament has produced.
For Manzambi, a substitute who changed everything, it was the night his World Cup truly began. Two goals from the bench, the second sealing the points, marked him out as a man for the big occasion and gave the Swiss a hero to celebrate.
What it means for Group B
The scale of the win matters as much as the win itself. Goal difference can decide qualification in tight groups, and a four-goal haul gives Switzerland a healthy cushion as the section takes shape. They now control their own destiny and look well placed to advance, with the manner of the victory likely to give the squad real belief heading into their remaining fixtures.
For Bosnia, it is a chastening result. They competed admirably for an hour and more, and for much of the night a point looked there for the taking. The red card undid them, and once Switzerland found their rhythm there was no way back. Reduced to ten men and chasing the game, they were picked apart in a finish that flattered the winners only slightly. There is work to do, and quickly, if their World Cup is not to slip away. Keep up with the rest of the drama in our World Cup coverage.