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Switzerland scored four goals in just over twenty minutes in a second half rampage against Bosnia & Herzegovina to soar top of Group B in their second group match at the World Cup.
The Swiss lacked the creativity to unlock Bosnia’s disciplined unit up until Murat Yakin’s triple change with just shy of twenty minutes of normal time to play.
Johan Manzambi’s exquisitely controlled volley was the start of Switzerland’s resounding win and Turak Muharemovic’s red card made the Bosnians uphill battle steeper.
Ruben Vargas placed a pinpoint effort beyond the outstretched glove of Nikola Vasilj, and went on to assist Manzambi to convert from close-range for his second.
Bosnia had something to momentarily soften the blow in California when Ermin Mahmic slammed home a volley, but Granit Xhaka’s penalty restored the three-goal lead to give Switzerland their first victory at this World Cup.
As it happened
In Switzerland’s pursuit to advance to the last 16 of the World Cup for the fourth successive time, the onus was firmly on them to breach the sitting Bosnian defence in Los Angeles.
Commanding the ball from the outset, Switzerland aimed to address the shortcomings in front of goal that cost them dearly in the draw with Qatar, but failed to make their possession count in the first half.
Captain Xhaka orchestrated with line breaking passes and slipped in Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye, who ghosted into a pocket of space between defenders and fired into the side netting.
Fabian Rieder was next to receive Xhaka’s services on the left flank, after being picked to start this time out in Yakin’s lineup, spraying a teasing low cross towards Ndoye. He could not apply the finishing touch and had a tame effort from the edge of the area to follow.
The Swiss were continuing to bide their time and opting to pounce on the right opportunities, primarily through Xhaka, to burst into the penalty box, until Remo Freuler unleashed from range and whistled his strike wide.
Bosnia kept sturdy to limit their opponents from fashioning anything to unsettle them, with Muharemovic in particular stifling Breel Embolo leading the line for Switzerland.
40-year-old striker Edin Dzeko lofted an inviting ball towards Benjamin Tahirovic in one sporadic venture into Switzerland territory, igniting the Bosnian faithful flocking to Los Angeles admirably in their thousands.
Shades of the 1-1 draw to Qatar emerged as Switzerland’s rhythm dropped and a lack of imagination in the final third left Vasilj largely untroubled between the sticks for Bosnia.
Sergej Barbarez’s side ended the first half posing a threat as teenager Kerim Alajbegovic acknowledged finishing duties were reserved for veteran Dzeko, but Freuler sprawled to smother his shot.
As the lowest ranked European team at the World Cup, there was plenty to build on with Ermedin Demirovic spotting Sead Kolasinac galloping down the left flank and bringing an intensity Switzerland could not summon just yet.
The Swiss did start to craft better openings and Ndoye was again their weapon capable of inflicting the most damage.
Another strike towards the near post was safely held by the Bosnia goalkeeper and lacked conviction once again, but he was the one to almost conjure the moment to lift his nation.
Xhaka curled a delightful cross into the box, which Ndoye acrobatically reached for with a powerful overhead kick, only for Vasilj to repel from close-range and deny the Forest man’s magic World Cup breakthrough in this tie.
This gave a platform for Switzerland to eventually reap the rewards for their attacking endeavours. Embolo’s header from a corner ricocheted off Nikola Katic, calling upon Vasilj to spring to his right and tip round the post.
Esmir Bajraktarevic and Ivan Basic were the ones entrusted to make an impact from the bench for Barbarez, who seemed keen to test Switzerland’s back line and push to claim the full spoils rather than strolling to another draw.
Right-back Amar Dedic pulled the trigger with a rasping drive for Gregor Kobel to parry moments before the second hydration break.
The immediate impact from the substitutes came from the opposite dugout though, as Switzerland scored the game’s opener, courtesy of their attacking substitutes.
Vargas clipped in a cross and Bosnia’s short clearance dropped to Manzambi, and Switzerland’s youngest squad member guided his volley towards the top right corner in the 74th minute.
Manzambi’s pass carved open Bosnia and things went from bad to worse for them when Muharemovic’s late sliding challenge as the last man on Embolo prompted the referee to brandish a red card.
Substitute Vargas rifled the free-kick to Vasilj’s side, but a swift Swiss move culminated in the Sevilla winger stroking a fine finish into the bottom right corner to double the advantage.
Bosnia were unraveling and Vargas darted behind the defence to pull back to Manzambi – who began his career as a goalkeeper – for his brace, ticking towards ninety minutes.
Although the result slipped away, the ten-men of Bosnia found a consolation goal when 21-year-old Mahmic smashed in a volley inside the box minutes after coming on.
Amar Memic took down Djibril Sow, and Xhaka scored the resulting penalty to deliver the knockout blow, and Switzerland will sit at the top of Group B before they collide with co-hosts Canada.
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