For more than an hour in Los Angeles, this World Cup group B clash drifted without rhythm. Switzerland had the ball, Bosnia-Herzegovina had the threat on the break, and neither side looked capable of landing a decisive punch. Then Murat Yakin turned to his bench and the tie flipped on its head.
Johan Manzambi, just 20 years old and barely settled into the game, detonated the contest with a thunderous volley only 166 seconds after coming on. It was the spark Switzerland had been searching for, the moment that cracked open a stubborn match and set the tone for a 4-1 win that pushes them to the brink of the knockout stages.
What followed was chaos, quality, and a flurry of late goals that transformed a flat evening into a statement victory.
A slow burner suddenly ignites
Up to the 73rd minute, Switzerland’s dominance of possession had produced little. They probed, recycled, and pushed Bosnia-Herzegovina back, but the cutting edge wasn’t there. Dan Ndoye’s bicycle kick had drawn a save, but even that was ruled offside. Amar Dedic forced Gregor Kobel into a sharp stop from distance. Beyond that, the game simmered.
Then came the breakthrough. A loose ball dropped from the sky, Manzambi attacked it with total conviction, and his volley ripped high into the net. It was a moment of pure instinct and technique that changed everything.
Red card turns the tide further
Bosnia-Herzegovina’s hopes of clawing back into the match evaporated minutes later. Tarik Muharemovic, chasing Breel Embolo as the last defender, clipped his heel and was shown a straight red. It was a harsh but decisive blow, leaving his side exposed and Switzerland suddenly rampant.
With the extra space, Switzerland’s substitutes took over. Embolo drove at a retreating defence and slipped in a pass to Ruben Vargas, who swept home first time to make it 2-0. The Swiss had gone from flat to flying in the space of ten minutes.
Manzambi doubles up as Swiss run riot
As the clock hit 90, Manzambi struck again. This time it was composure, a calm side-foot finish after Vargas pulled the ball back from the byline. Two goals in 16 minutes, both different, both decisive. A young forward making a serious case for a starting place.
Bosnia-Herzegovina did find a moment of joy. On just his third appearance, Ermin Mahmic met a dropping ball with a crisp volley that flew past kobel. It was a brilliant strike, a reminder of the quality they carry even in defeat.
But Switzerland restored their cushion almost immediately. Deep into stoppage time, granit xhaka rolled in a penalty after Djibril Sow was brought down by amar memic. It capped a ruthless, clinical finish from a side that had looked anything but dangerous for most of the night.
A star emerges on the biggest stage
Manzambi’s impact was more than just goals. In his short time on the pitch, he registered the most shots on target of any Swiss player, topped the charts for opposition box take-ons and dribbles, and won more duels than all but two teammates. He played with fearlessness, directness and a spark that Switzerland had been missing.
Already named europa league young player of the season for his role in Freiburg’s run to the final, he arrived at this World Cup as a promising talent. He may leave it as something far bigger.
Yakin now has a decision to make ahead of the final group game against Canada. Manzambi has made his case loudly.
What it means for group B
Switzerland’s win puts them in a commanding position. Four goals, three points, and momentum at exactly the right time. They controlled the match for long stretches, survived Bosnia-Herzegovina’s counter-attacking threat, and then tore the game open with pace and precision once the substitutes arrived.
Bosnia-Herzegovina, meanwhile, face an uphill climb. The red card, the late collapse, and the defensive gaps exposed in the final minutes leave them with work to do if they want to stay alive in the tournament.
Featured image via the Canary
By Faz Ali
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