Super-sub Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas struck late as Switzerland delivered a 4-1 victory over 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina in a flurry of goals at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The outcome puts Switzerland in a strong position to reach the knockout phase as one of the top two teams from Group B.
For much of the contest, Switzerland looked comfortable but the match itself remained fairly muted until coach Murat Yakin made changes in the 72nd minute, introducing the two attackers who immediately reshaped the game.
After Bosnia tried to clear a cross from Vargas, the ball landed invitingly for Manzambi, who swept a volley into the net with his first touch. Manzambi then turned provider as Vargas finished the move.
Between those strikes, Bosnia’s night worsened when Tarik Muharemovic was shown a red card for a reckless sliding challenge on Breel Embolo, who had broken clear on goal.
Vargas then compounded Bosnia’s problems by setting up another goal, with 20-year-old Freiburg forward Manzambi adding a further finish.
Ermin Mamhic pulled one back with a brilliant effort from a corner, but a Granit Xhaka penalty in stoppage time ensured Switzerland ran out convincing winners.
Switzerland moved to the top of Group B on four points, finishing three ahead of the rest of the section’s teams, with Canada and Qatar set to play later on Thursday.
With the nation at just its second World Cup, Bosnian supporters arrived in huge numbers.
A wave of blue surged through the stadium and largely drowned out the Swiss backing, save for one fan dressed as a cow who kept up a stubborn rattling of an oversized cowbell.
Switzerland had the sharper edge in the early passages of play.
Veteran midfield duo Xhaka and Remo Freuler repeatedly pushed forward from the left, feeding Dan Ndoye, though the moves often petered out with wayward deliveries and blunt finishing.
After starting deep, Bosnia gradually found more rhythm as the half progressed.
Edin Dzeko, at 40 years old, sparked their first major opening in the 32nd minute, switching the play across the six-yard area to Benjamin Tahirovic, who couldn’t get a clean connection at the far post.
Ndoye almost produced a stunning start to the second half, launching a bicycle kick from Xhaka’s cross toward Nikola Vasilj, who reacted well to tip it over the bar.
An increasingly frustrated Dzeko was booked after charging into Manuel Akanji, and he was then replaced.
Yakin introduced three changes at the 72nd-minute mark, and just two minutes later, two of those substitutes combined to give Switzerland the lead.
Vargas attacked down the left, his first cross was knocked back to him, and on his second attempt Amar Memic’s attempted header clearance dropped kindly for Manzambi, who volleyed home.
Muharemovic was sent off again for Bosnia in the 79th minute, this time for a sliding challenge from behind on Embolo.
From there, the game opened up. In the 84th minute, Manzambi arrived from the right and found Embolo, who played it into the path of an unmarked Vargas to finish.
Six minutes later, Vargas cut the ball back to Manzambi, who guided it across the goalkeeper.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Gregor Kobel batted a corner out to Bosnian substitute Mamhic, who fired his effort into the net.
However, Bosnia’s defending lost its composure at the end, and a desperate foul by Amar Memic gave Switzerland captain Xhaka the chance to convert from the spot.
