Switzerland 2-0 Algeria: Embolo, Ndoye Fire Swiss into Last 16 After 88-Year Wait

Switzerland ended an 88-year wait for a FIFA World Cup knockout victory after defeating Algeria 2-0 in Vancouver to book their place in the Round of 16.

Goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye secured a deserved victory for Murat Yakin's side, who progressed to the knockout stage for the fourth consecutive World Cup and will now return to Vancouver to face either Colombia or Ghana.

The victory ended a painful run that had seen Switzerland eliminated in each of their previous seven World Cup knockout matches since their last victory in 1938.

Although Algeria enjoyed 56 per cent possession, Switzerland were far more dangerous in attack, finishing with an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.52 compared with Algeria's 0.73.

Switzerland made the breakthrough after just 10 minutes through an excellent piece of individual brilliance from Johan Manzambi.

The 20-year-old Freiburg winger drove through the Algerian defence before calmly cutting the ball back to take goalkeeper Zidane completely out of the equation, allowing Embolo to finish into an empty net for his fourth goal involvement of the tournament.

The Swiss doubled their advantage just 48 seconds into the second half.

An Algerian clearance fell kindly to Nottingham Forest winger Dan Ndoye, who struck first time to beat the goalkeeper and effectively put the contest beyond reach.

Switzerland continued to create chances and should have extended their lead later in the match, but substitute Fabian Rieder somehow failed to convert with an open goal at his mercy in what will rank among the biggest misses of the tournament.

Despite the missed opportunity, Switzerland remained comfortably in control throughout and rarely looked troubled as they saw out the victory.

Manzambi once again underlined why he has emerged as one of the breakout stars of the tournament.

Having scored three goals during the group stage, he registered his second assist of the World Cup against Algeria, taking his direct goal involvements to five.

According to Opta, the 20-year-old became the first Swiss player to be directly involved in five goals at a FIFA World Cup since detailed records began in 1966.

At 20 years and 261 days, Manzambi is also the youngest player from any nation to reach that milestone since 1966.

His performances are expected to attract attention from some of Europe's biggest clubs, although Bundesliga side Freiburg are unlikely to want to part with one of their brightest young talents.

For Algeria, the defeat extends their long wait for a first-ever World Cup knockout victory.

After winning two of their opening three matches at their debut tournament in 1982, the Desert Foxes have managed only two victories in their last 14 World Cup matches and will have to wait at least another four years to try again.

Switzerland, meanwhile, move on with renewed belief as they prepare for a last-16 showdown against either Colombia or Ghana, aiming to build on a historic night that finally brought an end to nearly nine decades of World Cup knockout frustration.