Switzerland progressed from a knockout tie at the World Cup for the first time since 1938 as they reached the last 16 of this year's competition with a 2-0 win over Algeria.

Breel Embolo and Dan Ndoye were both on target in either half, while in-demand forward Johan Manzambi also impressed for Switzerland at BC Place Vancouver. 

Switzerland's triumph was also their third consecutive victory at the World Cup, doing so for the first time in their history, with the winner of Colombia or Ghana up next. 

Algeria started brightly and should have taken an early lead through Houssem Aouar in the sixth minute, but he failed to connect cleanly with Rafik Belghali's cross, and Vladimir Petkovic's side were made to pay for that missed opportunity moments later. 

In what was Switzerland's first real attack, Manzambi did brilliantly to skip beyond Aissa Mandi before delivering for Embolo to steer home with 10 minutes on the clock. 

But Algeria ended the half in the ascendency, with Fares Chaibi's effort comfortable for Gregor Kobel to gather while Ibrahim Maza scuffed his shot wide in stoppage time. 

However, just 48 seconds after the restart, Switzerland doubled their advantage. Ramy Bensebaini's pass to Rayan Ait-Nouri was cut out by Denis Zakaria and his delivery was cleared only as far as Ndoye, who picked out the bottom-left corner from just inside the penalty area. 

Zakaria was then on hand at the other end to preserve his team's two-goal lead with a vital block to deny Riyad Mahrez's attempt, before Belghali did the same to repel Fabian Rieder's shot towards goal. 

Rieder should have put the result beyond doubt nine minutes from time when he was found at the back post by Zakaria, but he miscued his effort as Luca Zidane clawed the ball to safety, though it mattered little as Switzerland safely progressed to the next round. 

Manzambi and Embolo impress as Xhaka earns victory on landmark appearance

Switzerland had been eliminated in each of their last seven World Cup knockout matches (excluding group play-offs) prior to kick-off, last progressing from a knockout tie with a 4-2 win over Germany in a round of 16 replay 88 years ago, and it was two players who helped end that run here. 

Embolo got things rolling for Switzerland with his fourth World Cup goal, a tally only Josef Hugi (six) and Xherdan Shaqiri (five) can better for the nation. He also netted his third opening goal in a match at the tournament, the highest number for a Swiss player in the competition.

But he was teed up by Manzambi, whose individual performances in North America have seen him linked with a move to the Premier League and Newcastle United. He is the first Switzerland player to be directly involved in five goals (three goals, two assists) at a World Cup since detailed data collection began in 1966.

At 20 years and 261 days old, Manzambi is also the youngest player to reach five goal contributions at a World Cup since 1966. Only Germany's Thomas Muller in 2010 (eight) has achieved the feat in the 21st century among players under the age of 21. 

It was also a milestone outing for Switzerland captain Granit Xhaka, who became the first player to make 150 international appearances for the national team. He also finished with team-high totals for duels won (10), possession won (eight) and fouls won (five).  

Switzerland also scored two goals in a World Cup knockout-stage match for the first time since a 7-5 defeat to Austria in 1954, but they were on the right side of the result here. They finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.52 from their 11 shots to Algeria's tally of 0.73 from their eight attempts.