Switzerland secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with all five goals arriving in a frantic final half-hour that transformed what had been a frustrating, goalless contest into a statement win. The result lifts Switzerland to the top of Group B, with four points from two games, after their earlier 1-1 draw against Qatar.

For more than 70 minutes, Switzerland — playing in front of nearly 70,000 spectators in the Inglewood district of Los Angeles — dominated possession at around 70 percent but could find no way through a disciplined, deeply defensive Bosnian side. Dan Ndoye was the Swiss team's most threatening presence, forcing goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj into repeated saves, while Remo Freuler and Michel Aebischer also went close without reward. Coach Murat Yakin responded by making a triple substitution after the second hydration break, introducing 20-year-old Johan Manzambi, Ruben Vargas, and Djibril Sow in the 71st minute — a move that changed the game entirely.

Manzambi, a Geneva-born attacker who plays for SC Freiburg in Germany's Bundesliga and whose parents are from the Democratic Republic of Congo, needed just three minutes to break the deadlock, firing a powerful volley into the net after a failed Bosnian clearance fell to him in the box. The floodgates then opened: in the 80th minute, Bosnian defender Tarik Muharemovic was sent off for hauling down Breel Embolo — denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity — and Vargas slotted home four minutes later to make it 2-0. Manzambi completed his brace in the 90th minute, becoming the first Swiss player to score twice in a World Cup match since Xherdan Shaqiri's hat-trick against Honduras in 2014. Bosnia substitute Ermin Mahmic pulled one back with a thunderous stoppage-time volley, before captain Granit Xhaka sealed the scoreline from the penalty spot in the eighth minute of added time after a foul on him by Amar Memic.

Manzambi's performance inevitably dominated post-match discussion. The 20-year-old, whose market value is estimated at around 50 million euros and who is widely expected to become the most expensive transfer in Swiss football history, had reportedly been told by Yakin simply to "let his talent speak" when he came on — a notable concession from a coach known for demanding tactical discipline. After the Qatar opener, Xhaka had publicly criticised substitutes for not following instructions and prioritising individual flair, remarks widely understood to reference Manzambi. That the youngster answered his critics so emphatically, with two goals and a decisive role in Switzerland's late surge, sets up an intriguing selection dilemma for Yakin ahead of the final group game.

Swiss qualification for the round of 32 is now virtually assured. Bosnia and Herzegovina, playing in only their second ever World Cup, remain on one point and face a must-win game against Qatar. Switzerland, meanwhile, will face Canada — who thrashed Qatar 6-0 in Thursday's later Group B match — in Vancouver next Wednesday, with top spot in the group at stake.