Super substitutes Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas fired Switzerland to a 4-1 victory over 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina after a late flurry of goals in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The result leaves the Swiss with a strong chance of reaching the knockout stages as one of the top two sides in Group B.
They had been controlling a largely tepid stalemate at the SoFi Stadium until coach Murat Yakin rang the changes in the 72nd minute, introducing the pair of forwards who immediately transformed the contest. Bosnia’s attempted clearance from a Vargas cross fell to Manzambi, who volleyed home with his first touch of the game, before Manzambi turned provider for Vargas to finish.
In between those goals, Bosnia saw Tarik Muharemovic sent off for a desperate sliding tackle on Breel Embolo, who was clean through on goal.
The afternoon got worse for Bosnia as Vargas then turned provider once more for 20-year-old Freiburg star Manzambi to grab his second.
Ermin Mamhic pulled back a spectacular consolation from a corner, but a Granit Xhaka penalty in injury time sealed the rout.
Switzerland go top of Group B on four points, three clear of the other teams, with Canada and Qatar playing later on Thursday.
With their country featuring in only its second World Cup, Bosnian fans turned out in huge numbers. A sea of blue swept into the impressive stadium and drowned out the Swiss support, with the exception of one man dressed as a cow, who defiantly rattled his oversized cowbell.
The Swiss had the better of the early exchanges. Veteran midfielders Xhaka and Remo Freuler orchestrated forays down the left flank to Dan Ndoye, which fizzled out with poor crosses and lacklustre finishing.
Having started very deep, the Bosnians slowly grew into the half. Forty-year-old star Edin Dzeko created their first big chance in the 32nd minute, cleverly switching play across the six-yard box to Benjamin Tahirovic, who failed to connect at the far post.
Ndoye nearly gave Switzerland a spectacular lead after the break, smashing a bicycle kick from Xhaka’s cross towards Nikola Vasilj, who did well to palm it over the bar. An increasingly frustrated Dzeko earned a booking for bulldozing Manuel Akanji, and was later substituted.
Yakin made three changes in the 72nd minute, and two minutes later, two of those substitutes combined to finally put his side ahead. Vargas ran up the left wing; his first cross bounced back to him, and on his second attempt, Amar Memic’s attempted headed clearance fell to Manzambi, who volleyed home.
Muharemovic was dismissed in the 79th minute for a sliding tackle from behind on Embolo. The floodgates then opened. In the 84th minute, Manzambi – coming in from the right – found Embolo, who played it to an unmarked Vargas to slot home. Six minutes later, Vargas cut back to Manzambi, who guided the ball across the keeper.
Three minutes into injury time, Gregor Kobel slapped a corner out to Bosnian substitute Mamhic, who rifled his shot home. But the Bosnian backline had lost their heads, and a desperate foul by Amar Memic gave Swiss captain Xhaka the chance to bury his penalty.