Dan Ndoye scored the decisive goal as Switzerland secured their first FIFA World Cup knockout-stage victory since 1938 with a comfortable win over Algeria to book a place in the last 16.
The Swiss took an early lead in Vancouver after some brilliant wing play from Freiburg’s Johan Manzambi, who beat his marker before delivering a precise cutback for Rennes forward Breel Embolo to score in the 10th minute.
Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye then doubled Switzerland’s lead just 46 seconds into the second half with a composed finish from inside the penalty area.
It was the first time Switzerland had scored more than one goal in a World Cup knockout match since their 7–5 quarter-final defeat to Austria in 1954.
Algeria, chasing their first-ever World Cup knockout-stage victory, enjoyed a promising spell before the break. However, their best chance fell to Fares Chaibi, whose tame effort was comfortably saved by Switzerland goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, and they rarely threatened thereafter.
Switzerland had not won a World Cup knockout match since defeating Germany in the 1938 Round of 16, before the introduction of the group-stage format. They ended that long wait with an assured performance.
The Swiss have now reached the last 16 of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive tournament and will face the winner of the Colombia versus Ghana fixture, scheduled for later today, on July 7.