Switzerland bounced back from a sluggish start to their World Cup campaign with a thrilling 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday. The star of the Group B clash at Los Angeles Stadium was 20-year-old substitute Johan Manzambi, whose two late goals sealed the win and lifted the team's spirits following a 1-1 draw against Qatar.
Coming off the bench in the second half, the young Freiburg midfielder made an immediate impact in a crowded penalty box.
"It's incredible, it's the first brace of my entire career," Manzambi said. "And to do it at the World Cup, especially after we didn't get off to the best start. I came on with the mindset of wanting to help my team. The coach told me to let my talent shine, and I think I showed that."
Swiss coach Murat Yakin was full of praise for the youngster's versatility, noting that Manzambi can effectively play in defense, midfield, on the flanks, or as a striker.
"Johan is a happy person with so many football qualities," Yakin said. "He put a lot of pressure on the opponent. He's a player who can surprise us as well as the opposition." Yakin even hinted that Manzambi's impressive performance could earn him a starting role in upcoming matches.
A Match of Broken Records
Beyond the critical three points for Switzerland, the match will be remembered for a historic flurry of late goals and statistical milestones:
Youngest Substitute Star: At 20 years and 247 days old, Manzambi became the youngest substitute to score more than one goal in a World Cup game.
Elite Substitute Club: Manzambi is only the 10th substitute in World Cup history to score a brace, and the first since Wout Weghorst did it for the Netherlands against Argentina in 2022.
Xhaka Makes History: Granit Xhaka also found the net, becoming only the second Swiss player to score in three different World Cups (2014, 2018, and 2026), joining Xherdan Shaqiri.
Late Goal Frenzy: The five combined goals in this match are the most ever in a World Cup game where the first goal was scored in the 74th minute or later.
Bench Power: Substitutes accounted for four goals in the match the second-most in tournament history, just behind the five scored during Hungary's famous win over El Salvador in 1982.
Equaling a 1954 Record: Switzerland’s four second-half goals matched their all-time record for the most goals scored by the team in a single half of a World Cup match.
With the team energized and their confidence restored, Switzerland now looks ahead to their final group-stage fixture with renewed momentum.
