News Focus
- Johan Manzambi nets brace within minutes of 73rd-minute introduction
- Tarik Muharemovic receives straight red card for foul on Breel Embolo
- Switzerland score four goals in final 15 minutes after earlier struggles
- Edin Džeko features at age 40, becoming ninth-oldest World Cup player
- Bosnia and Herzegovina face must-win final group game against Qatar
Switzerland discovered their scoring touch in dramatic fashion during the closing stages in Los Angeles, crushing Bosnia and Herzegovina after the underdogs were reduced to ten men. The Swiss had dominated possession but lacked precision until substitute Johan Manzambi transformed the contest with two clinical finishes.
The 20-year-old Freiburg forward entered the pitch with 17 minutes remaining. Within three minutes, he unleashed a powerful right-foot volley that broke the deadlock. The strike ended Switzerland’s frustration following a goalless first half where Dan Ndoye struck the side-netting and tested the goalkeeper repeatedly from the left channel.
The turning point arrived when defender Tarik Muharemovic received a red card for pulling down Breel Embolo during a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Bosnia’s resistance crumbled immediately. Rubén Vargas added a second goal after connecting with a low cross from Embolo, before Manzambi grabbed his second with a composed finish.
Ermin Mahmic then thundered an unstoppable volley into the net during stoppage time, with the shot registered at 71mph on the stadium screen. Captain Granit Xhaka completed the rout from the penalty spot after Amar Memic fouled Djibril Sow inside the area.
The result marked a stark contrast to Switzerland’s opening match against Qatar, where they fired 26 shots but managed only a draw. Bosnia started brightly with 40-year-old captain Edin Džeko making history as one of the oldest players ever to grace a World Cup finals pitch. However, the veteran striker could not prevent his team from sliding to defeat.
Bosnia and Herzegovina must now defeat Qatar in their final Group B fixture to stand any chance of reaching the knockout phase. Switzerland, meanwhile, have momentum ahead of their next assignment after finally solving their finishing problems.