Swiss striker makes World Cup history with brace off the bench
Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Johan Manzambi became the youngest player to score two goals after coming off the bench at a World Cup, achieving this feat at 20 years and 247 days old.
- He scored a hat-trick in Switzerland's 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, securing their first win of the tournament.
- Despite missing a chance at a World Cup hat-trick, Manzambi prioritized the team's victory over personal achievement.
Johan Manzambi etched his name in World Cup history by becoming the youngest player to score twice after entering the match as a substitute. The 20-year-old Freiburg forward achieved this milestone during Switzerland's decisive 4-1 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in their second group stage match, marking the team's first win of the tournament.
Manzambi, who came off the bench, netted the third goal for the Swiss in the 74th minute and added a third in the 90th minute. This brace made him the youngest player ever to score two goals as a substitute in World Cup history, at just 20 years and 247 days old. He narrowly missed out on an even greater achievement when captain Granit Xhaka scored Switzerland's fourth goal from a penalty in the seventh minute of stoppage time. Manzambi had approached Xhaka, seemingly eager to take the penalty himself.
Had Manzambi taken and scored the penalty, he would have become the third-youngest player to score a World Cup hat-trick, trailing only the legendary Pelรฉ and Germany's Edmund Conen. However, after the match, Manzambi indicated that the team's victory was far more important to him than personal accolades. The sole goal for Bosnia and Herzegovina was scored by Ermin Mahmiฤ.
Switzerland's coach, Murat Yakin, made impactful substitutions, bringing on both Manzambi and Ruben Vargas, who also scored in the match. The win puts Switzerland in a strong position in Group B. The article also briefly mentions the next opponent for the Croatian team and their pragmatic approach to success, highlighting players from various leagues.
The piece should be like an exciting whitewater ride for the audience. In the end, everyone is happy.
Originally published by Veฤernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.