SOCCER: Embolo, Ndoye fire Switzerland past Algeria into World Cup last 16

VANCOUVER — Switzerland advanced to the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Algeria on Thursday, powered by goals from Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye.

The Swiss broke the deadlock through Embolo after 20-year-old Johan Manzambi produced another moment of brilliance. The rising star drove down the left flank before delivering a low cross across the face of goal for Embolo to finish, earning his second assist of the tournament.

Manzambi has emerged as one of Switzerland's standout performers at the World Cup, contributing three goals and two assists in four appearances despite making only two starts.

Switzerland doubled its lead just one minute into the second half when Ndoye calmly slotted the ball past Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane after it fell kindly to him at the edge of the penalty area.

The victory sends Switzerland into the knockout stage, where it will look to end a long run of Round of 16 exits. The Swiss were eliminated at that stage in the 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022 tournaments and have not reached the World Cup quarterfinals since 1954.

Switzerland will remain in Vancouver for its Round of 16 match on Tuesday, where it will face the winner of the Colombia-Ghana clash. -Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Vancouver/Reuters