Twenty-year-old Johan Manzambi scored a late brace after coming on in the 71st minute, Ruben Vargas and Granit Xhaka also scored and Switzerland erupted late for a 4-1 victory over 10-man Bosnia and Herzegovina Thursday to go atop Group B at the World Cup.
The last three Swiss tallies in Inglewood, Calif., followed the 80th-minute dismissal of Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic, who was rightly sent off for hauling down Breel Embolo to deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
When it was all finished, Switzerland (1-0-1, 4 points) were in command in the group despite a disappointing 1-1 draw against Qatar in their tournament opener.
Qatar and Canada play in Thursday’s later Group B clash in Vancouver, where the winner will pull level on points with a Swiss side looking to progress to the knockout phase for a fourth consecutive World Cup.
Bosnian substitute Ermin Mahmic scored on a thunderous volley in second-half stoppage time for Bosnia and Herzegovina (0-1-1, 1 point).
But the Baltic side will need to be more adventurous in their group finale against Qatar to have any chance of progressing after offering little against the Swiss.
All five goals they’ve conceded have come after the 70th minute, including the leveler in their 1-1 tournament-opening draw against Canada.
Yet it looked for long stretches like Bosnia’s cagey approach would work until Switzerland coach Murat Yakin sent on Manzambi.
Shortly after his own insertion, Vargas got free on the left and curled in an outswinging cross toward the back post.
Amar Memic tried to head clear, but Manzambi instinctively met the second ball near the penalty spot and thumped a vicious side volley that had too much power for Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj.
Any realistic hopes of a positive Bosnian result ended six minutes later when referee Joao Pinheiro had no choice but to produce a red for Muharemovic’s late challenge from behind.
Four minutes later, Vargas found the bottom right corner after Embolo held the ball up near the spot and then played to his open teammate to his left.
Vargas was the provider when Manzambi completed his brace in the 90th minute, and after Mahmic pulled a goal back, the veteran Xhaka converted from the penalty spot seven minutes into second-half stoppage time.
–Field Level Media
