Switzerland atoned for their slip-up against Qatar as substitutes Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas inspired them to a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina which puts them in pole position in Group B at World Cup 2026.
Manzambi is just 20 but comes into these finals on the back of a stellar season at Freiburg, where he helped the German side reach the Europa League final before losing to Aston Villa.
He scored a double either side of one from Vargas, before another substitute, Ermin Mahmic, grabbed a consolation for 10-man Bosnia in stoppage time. There was still time for one more goal in a frantic end to the game as Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka scored a penalty with the last kick.
The game appeared to have 0-0 written all over it well into the second half, but it burst into life in the final 15 minutes in Los Angeles.
Switzerland broke the deadlock when a Vargas cross from the left was only partially cleared and Manzambi met it on the volley close to the penalty spot, with the power too much for Nikola Vasilj.
Bosnia had Tarik Muharemovic sent off with 10 minutes to go after he cut down Swiss striker Breel Embolo as he raced through on goal, and the game was over four minutes later.
Manzambi was again involved in the build-up, with Embolo laying on the chance for Vargas to sweep home Switzerland’s second.
It was three when Manzambi finished off another well-worked move, with Vargas cutting the ball back to him from the left.
Mahmic smashed home a superb volley in time added on but Xhaka had the final word from the penalty spot.
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin said he deliberately waited until the second-half hydration break to unleash Manzambi and Vargas on Bosnia.
“We needed to be very patient and it was also very important after the second hydration break that we would change a few things, then the opponent can’t react immediately” Yakin said. “We brought in very quick players because the opponent had run a lot.”
On two-goal star Manzambi, Yakin added: “Johan is a very happy person with so many football qualities. Last year when we toured the US he was with us. He’s a very versatile player, he is a boy who learnt how to play football on streets. He has discipline, but he still needs to be more structured.”
Bosnia coach Sergej Barbarez demanded his players lift their spirits quickly, with a win over Qatar in their final group game likely to be good enough to progress.
He said: “I don’t like self-pity. I entered the dressing room and told them they have one hour to cheer up and lift their heads up. There is one match still ahead of us.”
Barbarez said he had given the red-carded Muharemovic “a hug and a kiss” to console him, and lamented the period of “chaos” after the second water break when the game got away from his team.
