Bosnia manager Sergej Barbaraz was able to call on captain Edin Dzeko for the clash in Los Angeles after the 40-year-old striker missed last Friday’s 1-1 draw with co-hosts Canada, while 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic - who was not even born when Dzeko made his senior international debut - started on the left wing.
They had little to feed off in the early stages as Switzerland took control, with striker Dan Ndoye firing into the side netting after 10 minutes before Remo Freuler whistled a shot wide from long range midway through the half.
A draw was not particularly useful to either side’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase, and Ndoye nearly broke the deadlock in spectacular fashion 11 minutes into the second half when his overhead kick was tipped over the crossbar by Nikola Vasilj.
The Bosnia goalkeeper made another important save just after the hour mark to prevent Breel Embolo’s header creeping inside the near post. Dzeko was replaced by Esmir Bajraktarevic moments later before Amar Dedic forced Gregor Kobel into a rare save with a shot from long range.
Switzerland manager Murat Yakin used the second-half hydration break to make a triple substitution, as Manzambi, Ruben Vargas and Djibril Sow replaced Ndoye, Fabian Rieder and Michel Aebischer. The changes worked as two of them went onto get on the scoresheet.
First, Vargas sent a cross to the back post which Bosnia failed to clear, with Manzambi volleying home his first WC goal from 12 yards with a quarter-hour remaining.
It got worse for Bosnia six minutes later when Tarik Muharemovic brought down Embolo as he raced through on goal, with referee Joao Pinheiro producing the red card.
Bosnia were powerless to respond, and Vargas sealed victory with his first WC goal when he was fed by Embolo and coolly slotted home six minutes from time.
Vargas and Manzambi combined again in the final minute of normal time as the latter converted from close range, before Ermin Mahmic scored his first senior international goal in emphatic fashion with a consolation volley in stoppage time.
There was still time for Granit Xhaka to score at his third WC, having found the net at the 2014 and 2018 finals, when he slammed home a penalty after Amar Memic fouled Sow in the box.
Switzerland’s victory takes them to four points from two matches, with their place in the last 32 nearly assured ahead of their clash with Canada next Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Bosnia take on Qatar in what is now a must-win game, having seen their nine-match unbeaten run - and streak of six successive draws - ended here.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Granit Xhaka (Switzerland)