06/24/26 04:31:00
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06/24 16:29 CDT Switzerland wraps up first place in Group B at the World Cup
with a 2-1 victory over Canada
Switzerland wraps up first place in Group B at the World Cup with a 2-1 victory
over Canada
By ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Soccer Writer
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) --- Rubn Vargas and Johan Manzambi both
scored to give Switzerland a 2-1 victory over Canada on Wednesday at the World
Cup as both teams advanced to the knockout round.
Promise David scored a late goal for Canada, which took second place in Group B
behind the Swiss and earned a spot in the knockout round for the first time in
its history.
Switzerland will face a third-place team on July 2 in Vancouver in the round of
32. Canada needed a win or a draw to finish at the top of the group and stay on
home soil, but instead will travel to Inglewood, California, for its next game
on Sunday against the second-place finisher in Group A.
After Manzambi came off the bench and scored two goals in Switzerland's 4-1
victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Thursday, he earned a spot in the starting
lineup against Canada. The-20-year-old midfielder became the youngest player to
score two goals off the bench in the World Cup and is among the breakout young
stars at the tournament.
Vargas broke through for Switzerland about 40 seconds into the second half with
a strike that sailed past sliding Canada goalkeeper Maxime Crpeau, hit the
post and went into the net.
Breel Embolo then crossed the ball to Manzambi, whose shot went through the
hands of Crpeau to put the Swiss up 2-0 in the 57th minute.
Canada pulled a goal back in the 76th. David scored with a volley on his first
touch of the game about a minute after he came on as a substitute.
Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka had a chance in the scoreless first half but
his free kick in the 37th minute and sailed over the net as he let out a yell.
Ali Ahmed had one of Canada's best attempts of the first half in the 42nd
minute, but his shot to the near post was smothered by Switzerland goalkeeper
Gregor Kobel.
On Thursday, Canada won its first World Cup match and put itself in position to
advance. But the historic victory was bittersweet because Ismal Kon was
stretchered off with a broken left leg. Kon was at Wednesday's game on
crutches.
Bosnia beat Qatar 3-1 in the other Group B match and could still advance as a
third-place team. Qatar has been eliminated.
The Swiss opened the World Cup with a lackluster 1-1 draw against Qatar before
they routed Bosnia with a flurry of late goals. Considered the favorite in
Group B, Switzerland has played at the last five World Cups and advanced to the
round of 16 in the past three.
Canada, making its third World Cup appearance, opened the World Cup with a 2-2
draw against Bosnia.
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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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