Breel Embolo (right) scores the first for the Swiss (Photo by Антон Зайцев)
Switzerland are through to the Last 16 of the FIFA World Cup with a clinical 2-0 win over Algeria in Vancouver. The Swiss will now face the winners of the tie between Colombia and Ghana.
The effervescent Johan Manzambi created the first Swiss goal, surging down the left wing before crossing for Breel Embolo to tap in and Dan Ndoye slotted in the second.
Murat Yakin’s side took the lead in just the 10th minute at BC Place Vancouver, as Manzambi embarked on a determined run into the penalty area and cut the ball back from the byline for Embolo to tuck home from inside the six-yard box.
Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic was previously in charge of Switzerland between 2014-21, and with his side making it to the break without conceding again he would have been hoping to impart some half-time wisdom to his charges to spark a turnaround.
Whatever he said clearly didn’t have the desired effect though, and within one minute of the restart Ndoye doubled Switzerland’s lead when he controlled Rafik Belghali’s half clearance just inside the area before calmly slotting beyond the despairing dive of Luca Zidane.
With Switzerland coming into this contest on a run of just one defeat in their last 17 games, that left Algeria with a mountain to climb, and they were unable to fashion any clear chances to work their way back into the game, being kept at arm’s length by a Swiss side now heading into the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup for the fourth consecutive competition.
Algeria join Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and South Africa as African teams to be knocked out so far at the last-32 stage. Only Morocco have progressed.
