Switzerland gritted its teeth against Bosnia-Herzegovina for a long time, but then coach Murat Yakin took over for the win. Manzambi and Vargas shine.
Breathe a sigh of relief for Switzerland: The Swiss won the second group game against Bosnia-Herzegovina 4-1 (0-0). Shortly after coming on as a substitute, Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi took the lead in the 74th minute – and thus opened a late but furious Swiss party.
Ruben Vargas added the advantage (84th), Manzambi increased again (90th). In stoppage time, Ermin Mahmic made it 1:3 (90th + 3) with a remarkable goal. Granit Xhaka scored the final point with a penalty kick (90+7). With four points, Switzerland now has the best chance of progressing, the Bosnians have one point.
Switzerland lacks precision
Bosnia started with Edin Dzeko in the starting lineup. At the start against Canada (1-1), the 40-year-old was on the bench for 90 minutes. The encounter was intense right from the start. The initial phase was characterized by dogged duels before Switzerland took command. In the tenth minute, Granit Xhaka played Dan Ndoye free in the penalty area, who fired his shot into the side netting.
Three minutes later, Ndoye tried to work magic and put a cross pass from Fabian Rieder into the goal with his heel, but didn’t hit the ball. The Bosnians defended deep in their own half and waited for a counterattack. After a quarter of an hour, Amar Memic duped Ricardo Rodriguez on the right, but his cross into the center ended up behind the goal – there was more potential.
Bosnia with two chances before the break
On the other hand, the Bosnians made a mistake in building up the game, the ball landed at Ndoye’s feet and his 18-meter shot was easy prey for goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj. Switzerland had significantly more possession of the ball. The closer it got towards the goal, the more the final precision was missing. So Reto Freuler unleashed the hammer from 23 meters – just wide (23′).
It took a good half an hour for the Bosnians to appear in the penalty area again. Dzeko’s soulful cross failed to hit Memic at the far post. Then the usual picture again: Switzerland had the ball and was looking for the decisive gap. But the Bosnians defended consistently and attentively. The last offensive actions before the break belonged to coach Sergei Barbarez’s team. Dzeko was blocked after Kerim Alajbegovic’s cross pass (41′), then Sead Kolasinac hesitated too long after a great pass from Ermedin Demirovic (44′).
Ndoye sets the highlight
The second half started again with the Swiss attacking. Ndoye broke through on the left side, but was unable to surprise Vasilj with his powerful shot at the near corner (51′). Shortly afterwards, Michel Aebischer missed the goal with his header (53′). Three minutes later the game had its first highlight: Ndoye took a cross wonderfully with an overhead kick, but Vasilj quickly raised his fists. But the Swiss was offside anyway.
After a corner, Breel Embolo headed the ball at the near post, but Vasilj was there (63′). The encounter, which had been very fair for a long time, became increasingly competitive, with referee Joao Pinheiro pulling out the yellow card several times. Then the Bosnian fans screamed for goal when Amar Dedic shot from 30 meters. But Gregor Kobel was able to fend off the fluttering ball (68th).
Switzerland coach Murat Yakin reacted and made three changes. Among others, Johan Manzambi from SC Freiburg came into play – and the joker struck immediately. The Bosnians were able to clear a cross from substitute Ruben Vargar into the center, where Manzambi volleyed the ball into the goal from ten meters under pressure.
The Bosnians had to play the last ten minutes outnumbered. Manzambi sent Embolo on his way, who Tarik Muharemovic was the last man to get off his feet – emergency brake and red. Vargas shot the following free kick onto the goalkeeper’s corner, Vasilj made a safe save (81′). Six minutes before the end, Vargas made the decision: Embolo wanted to let the ball through to a colleague, which initially failed. He then fed Vargas, who shot in against the keeper’s direction.
Embolo missed the third goal when he narrowly missed a cross from Vargas. Being outnumbered, the Bosnians lacked the means to get back into the game. Instead, the Jokers followed up: Vargas crossed for Manzambi, who made the celebrated decision from eight meters. In stoppage time, Mahmic made the final score 1:3 from the Bosnians’ perspective with a great volley from a corner. Shaka scored the final point with a penalty after Djibril Sow had gone down somewhat theatrically.
outlook
The group finals are scheduled for next week. Switzerland continues against Canada on Wednesday (9 p.m. CEST) in Vancouver. Bosnia-Herzegovina will face Qatar in Seattle at the same time.