Switzerland qualified for the round of 16 of the World Cup for the fourth consecutive tournament, defeating Algeria 2-0 on Thursday night in Vancouver.

In the round of 16, Switzerland will face either Colombia or Ghana, who will face off early Saturday (4/7, 04:30) in Kansas City. The Swiss will be seeking their first World Cup quarter-final since 1954.

The score opened in just the 10th minute, when Manzabi made an excellent run from the left, reached the goal line and passed the ball to Embolo, who, with a close-range shot, easily sent the ball into the net.

The score was 2-0 in just the first minute of the second half, when Rafik Belgali mistakenly kicked the ball to Doi, who did not let the opportunity go to waste and with a strong right-footed shot sent the ball into the left corner of the goal.

The quick goal immediately after the break cut short Algeria’s momentum, which struggled to create any meaningful opportunities.

Switzerland missed a great chance for a third goal in the 81st minute. Zakaria’s cross went past Embolo, who didn’t have time to make the clearance, and ended up in the hands of the unguarded Fabian Ridder at the far post. Despite the undefended goal in front of him, Ridder weakly found the ball with his left heel and Zidane had time to intervene.

   REFEREE: Yael Falcon (Argentina)

   YELLOWS: Saybi, Boudaoui

The lineups:
Switzerland (Murat Yakin): Kobel, Zakaria (87′ Ebitser), Elwendi, Akanji, Rodriguez, Freuler, Xhaka, Ndoi (87′ Widmer), Manzabi (71′ Rieder), Vargas (71′ Okafor), Ebolo (83′ Amdouni).
Algeria (Vladimir Petkovic): Zidane, Belgali (82′ Bulbina), Madi, Bencebaini, Ait-Nouri, Zerrouki (58′ Guiri), Bentaleb (71′ Moussa), Mahrez (71′ Boudaoui), Aouar (58′ Hajam), Shaibi, Maza.