Johan Manzambi produced a stunning impact from the bench, scoring twice as Switzerland pulled away late to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 and strengthen their position at the top of Group B.
The match remained finely balanced until the closing stages in Los Angeles, but Switzerland exploded into life after Bosnia were reduced to 10 men, scoring four goals in the final 16 minutes to move closer to a place in the World Cup last 32.
Manzambi broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, volleying home from close range after a knockdown inside the penalty area. The goal came less than three minutes after the 20-year-old entered the game and with only his fourth touch of the ball.
Bosnia’s task became even harder shortly beforehand when defender Tarik Muharemovic was shown a straight red card for bringing down Breel Embolo as the Swiss forward raced clear on goal.
Switzerland quickly took advantage of the extra space. Ruben Vargas curled a precise finish into the bottom corner to double the lead before turning provider in the 90th minute, setting up Manzambi for his second goal of the evening.
Captain Granit Xhaka then completed the scoring for the Swiss from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Amar Memic fouled Djibril Sow in the area.
Bosnia managed a consolation goal moments later when Ermin Mahmic struck a spectacular volley following a corner, but it did little to change the outcome.
“It is probably the best moment of my career so far,” said Manzambi after the match. “We knew why we didn’t start well and we had to stay patient. We are a good team and I think we showed that.”
Before the breakthrough, Switzerland had struggled to convert their chances despite controlling large periods of the game. Dan Ndoye threatened repeatedly, firing into the side-netting early on before missing a low cross and later seeing an acrobatic bicycle kick tipped over the crossbar.
Bosnia grew into the contest during the second half and appeared to be gaining momentum before the hydration break interrupted their rhythm. Veteran striker Edin Dzeko, playing in his second World Cup, remained their biggest attacking threat but was unable to find the net and was substituted after 64 minutes.
The victory was driven by the influence of Manzambi, who continues to establish himself as one of Switzerland’s brightest young talents.
At 20 years and 247 days old, he became the youngest player to score twice as a substitute in a men’s World Cup match.
The Geneva-born midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Freiburg, helping the German club reach the Europa League final, the first major European final in its history. His performances have reportedly attracted interest from several Premier League sides.
Since making his senior Switzerland debut last June, Manzambi has become a regular fixture in the national team setup. He marked his second international appearance with a goal and an assist in a 4-0 victory over the United States and has now featured in all 13 Swiss internationals since.
His performance against Bosnia is likely to strengthen his case for a starting role in Switzerland’s next group-stage match against Canada.
Interestingly, Manzambi once dreamed of becoming a goalkeeper, having grown up admiring Germany legend Manuel Neuer and Swiss international Yann Sommer.
“The Swiss player I admired most when I was younger was Yann Sommer,” he previously told Swiss media. “When I was little, I wanted to be a goalkeeper, but my father and brother didn’t agree.”
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin praised the youngster’s unpredictability and attacking qualities after the match.
“Johan is a very positive person with so many football qualities,” Yakin said. “He learned the game on the streets and we give him freedom to create, dribble and attack. He has been important for us as a substitute before and he was crucial again today.
“He is a player who can surprise everyone, including us. He can attack through the middle or from wide areas, and he puts opponents under pressure.”