World Gup Group B: Canada, Switzerland take control after big wins

Canada and Switzerland have effectively guaranteed their place in the World Cup knockout rounds after dominant wins over Qatar and Bosnia and Herzegovina respectively.

For co-hosts Canada, their 6-0 win was overshadowed by a horrific injury to Ismael Kone, who was stretchered off with a broken leg after a challenge by Qatar’s Assim Madibo.

A late Swiss onslaught left Bosnia stunned as they scored all four goals in the final 16 minutes to win 4-1.

The results leave both Canada and Switzerland on four points, and, with Bosnia playing Qatar in the final group game, a guarantee of a place in the top three. That is almost certain to be enough to see both teams progress.

Jonathan David hat-trick sees Canada beat nine-man Qatar

Before Kone’s injury, Canada were already cruising after three first-half goals. Cyle Larin pounced on a rebound to bundle the ball home from close range after 15 minutes, before Jonathan David opened his World Cup account with a powerful volley from 18 yards.

On the half-hour mark, Tajon Buchanan was bundled over in the penalty box by Homam Al Amin. The referee initially pointed to the spot, but VAR replays showed that the foul was just outside the area. That meant that Al Amin’s booking for the initial challenge was upgraded to a red card.

Just before half time, David added his second of the game to put Canada in full control.

Qatar were reduced to nine men after Madibo’s challenge on Kone, with both Canada and Qatar players, and Madibo himself, left visibly in distress.

Kone’s replacement, Nathan Saliba, paid tribute when he curled in a free kick from 22 yards before running to the bench to raise his teammate’s jersey to the Vancouver crowd.

The rout hadn’t stopped there. Canada added a fifth when Jacob Shaffelburg’s shot was deflected into his own net by Mohammad Al Mannai, and David completed his hat trick in stoppage time.

Late Switzerland goal-fest leaves Bosnia broken

Switzerland left it late to defeat Bosnia, as supersubs Johan Manzambi and Ruben Vargas shared three goals in the closing stages.

Murat Yakin’s side looked the most likely to score with Dan Ndoye forcing Nikola Vasilj into a good save with a spectacular bicycle kick. The Bosnia goalkeeper was called on again to keep Breel Embolo’s header from finding the bottom corner.

Manzambi, Vargas and Djibril Sow were introduced in a triple substitution at the second-half hydration break. The changes made an immediate impact as Vargas’s cross fell to Manzambi who volleyed the opening goal in from 12 yards.

Bosnia played the last 10 minutes with 10 men when Tarik Muharemovic brought down Embolo when he was through on goal, and Switzerland made the most of their man advantage to score three more.

Vargas netted when he slotted home from Embolo’s through ball, and Vargas and Manzambi combined once again for the latter’s second goal.

Ermin Mahmic got a consolation for Bosnia when he volleyed in, but Granit Xhaka put a gloss on the result with a stoppage-time penalty after Amar Memic fouled Sow in the box.

Cover Photo: FIFA World Cup 2014 by Mariya Butd used under license by CC BY 2.0.