VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Johan Manzambi started a World Cup match for Switzerland for the first time, and he started the second half of that match by putting his team ahead by two goals.The 20-year-old winger, who came off the bench in Switzerland’s opening two matches of this year’s tournament, set up Ruben Vargas with a cross for the opening goal in a 2-1 victory over Canada only seconds after the second half started. He then added his own goal 11 minutes later by slipping a shot past Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau.With the victory on Wednesday, Switzerland won Group B and will stay in Vancouver for the round of 32 against one of the eight best third-place finishers.The goals on Wednesday weren’t Manzambi’s first of this year’s World Cup. He scored twice in the 4-1 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina as a substitute.In the 74th minute against Bosnia, Manzambi volleyed in a ball from near the penalty spot to finally give his team the lead. He scored a second goal on a one-touch finish in the 90th.
That impressive performance must have made an impact on coach Murat Yakin, who gave Manzambi his first World Cup start against Canada in a match with major implications.
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