Switzerland handed 10-man Bosnia-Herzegovina a 4-1 defeat in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group B tie as South Africa held Czechia to a 1-1stalemate in Group A.
Super subs Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas fired Switzerland to the win that puts the Swiss in with a strong chance of reaching the knockout round as one of the top two teams in Group B.
They had been controlling a largely tepid stalemate at the SoFi Stadium until coach Murat Yakin rang the changes in the 72nd minute, bringing on the pair of forwards who immediately transformed the game.
The Swiss had the better of the early exchanges.
Veteran midfielders Xhaka and Remo Freuler orchestrated forays down the left flank to Dan Ndoye, which fizzled out with poor crosses and lackluster finishing.
Having started very deep, the Bosnians slowly grew into the half.
Forty-year-old star Edin Dzeko created their first big chance in the 32nd minute, cleverly switching play across the six-yard box to Benjamin Tahirovic, who failed to connect at the far post.
Ndoye nearly gave Switzerland a spectacular lead after the break, smashing a bicycle kick from Xhaka’s cross toward Nikola Vasilj, who did well to palm it over the bar.
An increasingly frustrated Dzeko earned a booking for bulldozing Manuel Akanji, and was substituted.
Yakin made three changes in the 72nd minute, and two minutes later, two of those subsitutes combined to finally put his side ahead.
Vargas ran up the left wing, his first cross bounced back to him, and on his second attempt, Amar Memic’s attempted headed clearance fell to Manzambi, who volleyed home.
In between those goals, Bosnia had Tarik Muharemovic sent off in the 80th minute for a desperate sliding tackle on Breel Embolo, who was clear through on goal.
The floodgates then opened. In the 84th minute Manzambi, coming in from the right, found Embolo who played it to an open Vargas to slot home.
Six minutes later, Vargas cut back to Manzambi, who guided the ball across the ‘keeper.
Three minutes into stoppage time, Gregor Kobel slapped a corner out to Bosnian substitute Mamhic, who rifled his shot home.
But the Bosnian backline had lost their heads, and a desperate foul by Amar Memic gave Swiss captain Xhaka the chance to bury his penalty.
South Africa stay alive
Teboho Mokoena’s penalty kept South Africa’s dream of reaching the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stages for the first time alive after a 1-1 draw with the Czechia on Thursday.
Michal Sadilek’s early opener had the Czechs on course for just their second World Cup win as an independent nation.
But Mokoena’s late spot-kick kept both teams in the hunt for the last 32, although they will almost certainly have to win their final Group A fixture to advance.
Both sides started with disappointing performances and defeats on the World Cup’s opening day, but the Czechs quickly set about making amends.
Patrik Schick is the biggest name in a Czechia side lacking the star quality of previous generations but the Bayer Leverkusen forward missed a glorious chance inside the first minute when he planted a header wide.
Miroslav Koubek’s men only had to wait another five minutes to take the lead.
Adam Hlozek’s cross was classily cushioned by Alexandr Sojka into the path of Sadilek, who calmly stroked the ball past Ronwen Williams.
The Czechs were left to rue not making more of their chances to kill the game off early in the second half.
Vladimir Darida took too long to get his shot off with a big chance before Lukas Cerv’s long-range effort was tipped over by Williams.
There were thousands of empty seats on show at the futuristic home of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, but those that were in attendance loudly booed the mid-half hydration breaks in an enclosed and air-conditioned stadium.
The majority of the crowd were backing South Africa and finally had something to cheer seven minutes from time.
Thapelo Maseko’s shot hit the arm of the unfortunate Pavel Sulc and referee Tori Penso, part of an all-female officiating team, pointed to the spot.
Mokoena confidently drilled home the spot-kick for his nation’s first World Cup goal in 16 years.
They came close to a second five minutes later when Matej Kovar saved from Relebohile Mofokeng.
But both sides had to settle for a point that could yet prove vital come the end of Wednesday’s final Group A games.
