Switzerland v Bosnia-Herz
Play By Play
A remarkable finale to an otherwise tepid match sees Switzerland race away to a 4-1 win in Los Angeles, where 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina are ultimately well beaten. The top seeds in Group B move onto four points from two games, but only thanks to the intervention of some second-half substitutes. After arriving from the bench, Vargas and Manzambi sparked a late siege that finally created the opening goal, then saw Muharemovic receive his marching orders, before Switzerland finished with a real flourish. Both players were involved in the first three goals - with Manzambi netting two and Vargas the other - before captain Xhaka stepped up to convert a last-minute penalty. There was also a late Bosnian 'consolation', as Mahmic hammered home soon after leaving the bench. By the full-time whistle, Yakin's men had created 2.01 xG, while Bosnia-Herzegovina produced just 0.24 from five attempts. That ends their nine-game unbeaten streak, leaving them potentially needing maximum points from their final group fixture against Qatar. Meanwhile, Switzerland are well placed to progress ahead of next week's meeting with co-hosts Canada. That's all from L.A, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!
FULL-TIME: SWITZERLAND 4-1 BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! SWITZERLAND"S SKIPPER GETS IN ON THE ACT! With the last kick of this match, Xhaka plants his penalty into the bottom-right corner of the net! Vasilj dives the right way but can't keep it out: it's now 4-1 to Die Nati, who are moving onto four points in Group B!
PENALTY FOR SWITZERLAND! When Bosnia-Herzegovina fail to clear their lines, Sow tries to seize on a loose ball inside the box, but Memic lunges in and upends him. The referee doesn't hesitate before pointing towards the spot!
With goals flying in left, right and centre since Switzerland broke through, stoppage time now enters its fifth minute of six indicated by the officials. Time for any more?
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!! WHAT A HIT BY MAHMIC! Just moments after leaving the bench, the substitute slams an unerring volley past Kobel and into the back of the net! Bosnia-Herzegovina may trail 3-1, and are down to 10 men, but that's a memorable moment for Mahmic - what a way to score his first international goal!
A final Bosnia-Herzegovina change: Alajbegovic makes way for Mahmic.
Involved in all three Swiss strikes, Vargas adds an excellent assist to his goal. He cuts the ball back for Manzambi from the left byline.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! MANZAMBI MAKES HIS MARK! Switzerland now lead 3-0! Swiss skipper Xhaka finds Vargas, and the latter then cuts the ball back for Manzambi, who scores his second goal of the game with a neat side-footed finish! The substitute has found the net twice since coming on, becoming the youngest sub ever to bag a brace at the World Cup (20 years, 247 days).
Job done, Embolo departs. Itten will lead Switzerland's attack for the final few moments.
Full of confidence now, super-sub Vargas progresses up the left wing and whips a threatening cross along the six-yard box, only for Embolo to miss it by millimetres.
Meanwhile, Switzerland introduce Jaquez for Widmer.
Bosnia-Herzegovina's scorer in the opening game, Lukic is sent on to take the place of Demirovic up front.
In response to conceding again, Barbarez makes two more changes. First, Sunjic is replaced by Hadziahmetovic.
After receiving the ball from Manzambi, Embolo bundles through a challenge before setting up Vargas to finish.
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! SWITZERLAND WRAP UP ALL THREE POINTS! Putting 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina to the sword, Vargas finds the bottom-right corner with a crisp first-time finish. Manzambi is involved again, finding Embolo, who works the ball towards Vargas. The latter stays cool to convert from 12 yards out! It's 2-0 to Die Nati: game over!
SAVE! Vasilj parries away a firm free-kick by Vargas, who beats the defensive wall from around 20 yards out but can't pick out either top corner.
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA GO DOWN TO 10 MEN! It goes from bad to worse for the Bosnians, as Muharemovic is caught out by Embolo and can only upend the raiding Swiss striker. As the last man between Embolo and the Vasilj in goal, he simply must walk!
Bosnia-Herzegovina have a big task to turn this game around now, as time is running out and Switzerland are looking ever more confident.
Already the subject of much interest from clubs around Europe, Manzambi scores with his fourth touch of the ball. He's also become the third-youngest goalscorer for Switzerland in a World Cup game (20y 247d), behind only Alfred Bickel (20y 28d in 1938) and Charles Antenen (20y 241d in 1950).
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! SWITZERLAND MAKE THE BREAKTHROUGH! Two subs are involved as the Swiss side go 1-0 up in L.A! Vargas sees a couple of crosses cut out, but the latter falls to Manzambi, who volleys a fierce attempt past Vasilj from close range! The goalkeeper's resistance is broken, and Bosnia-Herzegovina are behind!
Finally, danger man Ndoye departs, to be replaced by Swiss rising star Manzambi.
Sow will replace Aebischer in midfield.
Yakin uses the break to make a triple change. First, Rieder is replaced by Vargas, reversing the switch that was made to Switzerland's starting XI.
The second half hydration break is greeted by Bosnian boos, as it interrupts some building momentum. As things stand, Switzerland's chance of victory has dipped to 36%, compared to 11% for Bosnia-Herzegovina; are we bound for another draw in Group B?
