Switzerland secured a commanding 4-1 victory over a 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina side in their Group B clash at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium on Jeudi, thanks to a late surge powered by substitutes Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas.
Until the 72nd minute, the match had largely been a subdued affair, with neither side able to break the deadlock. That changed dramatically when Swiss coach Murat Yakin introduced Manzambi and Vargas, whose immediate impact sparked a flurry of goals that decisively shifted the momentum.
Substitutes Spark Swiss Revival
Shortly after coming on, Vargas delivered a dangerous cross that Bosnia’s defense failed to clear effectively, allowing Manzambi to volley in with his very first touch. Building on that breakthrough, Manzambi then set up Vargas to double Switzerland’s lead.
The contest took a further turn when Bosnia’s Tarik Muharemovic received a red card for a reckless sliding challenge on Breel Embolo, who was clear on goal. Reduced to ten men, Bosnia found the situation increasingly difficult to manage as the Swiss pressed their advantage.
Vargas continued his creative role by assisting Manzambi once Plus, enabling the 20-year-old Freiburg forward to notch his second goal of the day. Although Ermin Mamhic responded with a remarkable goal from a corner to provide Bosnia a consolation, Switzerland sealed their triumph with a penalty converted by Granit Xhaka during stoppage time.
With this result, Switzerland now lead Group B with four points, holding a three-point gap over their rivals as Canada and Qatar face off later on Jeudi.
Despite their team’s challenges, Bosnian supporters turned out in large numbers for only their country’s second World Cup appearance. Their vibrant blue-clad presence dominated the stadium atmosphere, momentarily overshadowing the Swiss fans—save for one solitary supporter dressed as a cow, who stood out in defiance.