Canada and Switzerland registered thumping victories
South Africa held Czechia to maintain their hopes
You could be forgiven for thinking the Canucks had won their first Stanley Cup. The ear-splitting noise was, however, to commemorate every Canada goal on grass rather than ice. They got six of them in Vancouver – twice as many as they had scored in seven previous FIFA World Cup™ games. If that left Canada requiring a point to top their group, fellow co-hosts Mexico won theirs with a game to spare, Luis Romo the solitary marksman down in Guadalajara. Elsewhere, Switzerland ran riot towards the end to bundle over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and South Africa summoned a late equaliser against Czechia.
Teboho Mokoena was in tears before the game and following its conclusion. As God Bless Africa rung out, he remembered his late grandfather, his inspiration. As Bafana Bafana fans celebrated a first World Cup point in 16 years, the veteran was emotionally overwhelmed at being its inspiration. Mokoena’s late penalty cancelled out Michal Sadilek finalising a clever team move. The result kept both sides in pursuit of a last-32 slot.
Murat Yakin’s switches worked like Swiss clockwork. A battle with the Bosnians had been goalless and shot-shy until the Nati coach threw on three men in the 72nd minute. It wasn’t for much longer. Ruben Vargas was central to the deadlock-splitter, a Johan Manzambi volley. The former would finish the game with a goal and an assist, and the latter with a brace and the Superior Player of the Match award. Switzerland are on the brink of the knockout phase.
It rained goals in ‘Rain City’. Jesse Marsch said he’d “take a 1-0 win”. The Canada coach’s charges made it six times better. Jonathan David was the star of stars, hitting the first World Cup hat-trick by a Concacaf player in 96 years to join Lionel Messi atop the scoring chart. Cyle Larin’s second of the tournament also heightened an unforgettable night. The co-hosts now need a point against Switzerland at the same venue to finish top of the section.
‘The Hand of God’ transpired in Mexico. Today, 40 years later, ‘The Knee of God’ did. Raul Rangel miraculously kept out Cho Guesung’s point-blank header, before reacting hypersonically to deny Yang Hyunjun. It left countless South Koreans with heads in their hands. Twenty-seven minutes earlier, every Mexican’s arms were in the air in ecstasy. Luis Romo had netted the goal that confirmed Javier Aguirre’s side will play in Mexico City in the last 32.
Michal Sadilek scored the fastest goal on this World Cup after five minutes and eight seconds. Felix Nmecha took eight seconds longer to net for Germany against Curaçao.
Johan Manzambi, at 20 years and 247 days, became the youngest substitute in World Cup history to bag a brace. Nelson Cuevas, who was 22 years and 153 days old when he scored a double for Paraguay against Slovenia at Korea/Japan 2002 had held the record.
All six of the penalties taken at this World Cup have been scored. Breel Embolo for Switzerland v Qatar, Kai Havertz scored for Germany v Curaçao, Marko Arnautovic for Austria v Iraq, Harry Kane for England v Croatia, Teboho Mokoena for South Africa v Czechia, and Granit Xhaka for Switzerland v Bosnia and Herzegovina were responsible.
Jonathan David became the first host player to score a World Cup treble since Geoff Hurst for England in the 1966 final.
Mexico became the first host nation since France in 1998 to win and keep a clean sheet in their first two matches of a World Cup.
Friday 19 June (all times local) 12:00 (Group D) 18:00 (Group C) 20:00 (Group D) 20:30 (Group C)
Sources: FIFA Official
