Switzerland End 87-Year Knockout Stage Drought With Comfortable Win Over Algeria

Switzerland finally broke their World Cup knockout curse, beating Algeria to reach the last 16 for a fourth straight tournament. It’s their first win in a World Cup knockout game since 1938.

*How it happened* 

Breel Embolo put the Swiss ahead early in Vancouver. Johan Manzambi did the hard work on the wing, skinning Aissa Mandi before sliding a perfect cutback for Embolo to finish in the 10th minute. 

Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye made it 2-0 just 46 seconds after halftime with a clinical finish inside the box. That marked the first time Switzerland scored 2+ goals in a World Cup knockout match since their 7-5 loss to Austria in the 1954 quarter-finals.

Algeria, still chasing a first-ever knockout win, had their best chance before the break but Fares Chaibi’s weak effort was easily saved by Gregor Kobel. They never really threatened again.

Fabian Rieder should have made it three late on, but he scuffed a back-post chance straight to Algeria keeper Luca Zidane.