- Full Time
- 87'L. Millar
- C. Itten on for B. Embolo85'
- C. Fassnacht on for J. Manzambi85'
- 83'J. Shaffelburg on for R. Laryea
- D. Ndoye on for R. Vargas80'
- 76'P. David
- 75'P. David on for T. Buchanan
- S. Widmer on for L. Jaquez74'
- M. Aebischer on for D. Sow74'
- 58'L. Millar on for A. Ahmed
- 58'T. Oluwaseyi on for C. Larin
- 58'S. Eustaquio on for M. Choinière
- J. Manzambi57'
- R. Vargas46'
- Half Time
- G. Xhaka32'
- 32'C. Larin
- Kick Off
-
1
Rubén Vargas1 - 2Johan Manzambi1
- 3
Promise David1
- 1Promise David3
- 2Johan Manzambi2
- 3Derek Cornelius2
- 1Nathan Saliba2
- 2Manuel Akanji2
- 3Remo Freuler1
- 1Johan Manzambi1
- 2Nathan Saliba1
- 3Breel Embolo1
- 1Liam Millar2
- 2Nathan Saliba2
- 3Ricardo Rodríguez2
- 1Manuel Akanji65
- 2Nico Elvedi58
- 3Granit Xhaka55
- 1Nathan Saliba3
- 2Breel Embolo2
- 3Liam Millar1
- 1Alistair Johnston3
- 2Mathieu Choinière2
- 3Remo Freuler1
Switzerland earned the top spot in Group A by beating Canada 2-1 in an end-to-end match in Vancouver.
A quickfire double from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi were enough to secure the three points for el Nati despite Promise David earning a goal back from the bench.
In a first-half of few chances, Breel Embolo was presented with arguably the best opportunity. The Rennes man raced through on goal and drew smart stop from Maxime Crepeau while Johan Manzambi couldn’t do anything with the follow-up’s follow up shot was well blocked.
At the other end, Cyle Larin was played in and had an effort saved by Gregor Kobel as he tried to bend the ball into the far corner. As we ticked towards half-time, a flowing Canada move saw Ali Ahmed presented with a chance to open the scoring but again Kobel was equal to it, diving right to his near post to concede a corner.
The second exploded into life almost immediately as Manzambi fed a pass into Ruben Vargas, who obliged with the finish to send Switzerland 1-0 up and to top spot in the group.
Manzambi wasted no time in making it two as Embolo took advantage of some dreadful Canadian defending to latch onto a long-ball and lay off to the Freiburg man. Crepeau arguably could’ve kept the shot out – but failed to do so and Switzerland were two goals to the good.
The co-hosts weren’t giving up without a fight, but they were undoubtedly struggling to find their groove.
Eventually, the goal came Promise David was introduced off the bench and immediately grabbed a goal back, volleying a cross from Nathan Saliba past the out-of-position Kobel.
The Canucks very nearly got the equaliser in injury-time. Derek Cornelius, Promise David and Alistair Johnson all having headed efforts come close. In the end however, Murat Yakin’s men saw out the win.
The result leaves Switzerland topping the group, with Canada now having to go south of the border to Los Angeles for their Round of 32 match.
