Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland as captain Boualem Khoukhi headed in a stoppage-time equalizer to send the Gulf nation into jubilation on Saturday.
Khoukhi rose highest to thump in Homam Ahmed’s cross after 94 minutes and cancel out a first-half Breel Embolo penalty, leaving the Swiss stunned and distressed after failing to convert 26 attempts on goal to Qatar’s seven.
The result left Group B wide open, with all teams locked on a point each after hosting Canada’s 1-1 draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Qatar will easily be the most satisfied of them, four years after their 2022 debut fell flat with a winless elimination on home soil.
The entire Qatari squad stormed the pitch in ecstasy after Khoukhi’s header was deflected by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, giving Spain’s Julen Lopetegui a landmark result as he coached his first World Cup match.
“We achieved one dream when we arrived here, to be here, and now today is another little dream,” Lopetegui told reporters. “And we have the right to continue to have the dream.”
Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada was naturally delighted too after fouling Remo Freuler to give the Swiss their penalty in the 17th minute.
“This is the first point in the history of the Qatar national team. Praise be to God in any case,” Abunada said.
“Honestly, the match was played with great determination from all. Praise be to God, Lord of the world.”
However, Switzerland may feel the football gods abandoned them after seeing chance after chance go begging, with Dan Ndoye particularly wasteful in the first half.
However, it was all set up for the group’s favorites when Abunada smashed into Freuler in the six-yard box.
Freuler ran onto a header from Embolo in the area, flicked the ball into the goal past Abunada and was met heavily by the stopper who came second best in the match.
Referee Said Martinez pointed straight to the spot but it took a lengthy VAR check to confirm the penalty while a prone Abunada – booked for the challenge – was treated by medical staff.
While Michel Aebischer made a sixth Swiss shot on target stopped on the line deep into first-half stoppage time, Qatar’s forwards were left with scraps.
Qatar danger man
The Asian champions’ danger man Akram Afif was well chained but found space down the flank late in the half to set up Edmilson for a one-time shot that was saved by Kobel.
With Qatar camped in rows in front of goal, the game meandered in the second half and a series of substitutions either side of the drinks interval did nothing to break the stalemate.
That was until Ahmed found Khoukhi with a sumptuous cross to grab the tie, leaving clumps of thobe-wearing Qataris bouncing in the stands.
Switzerland still fancy their chances of getting out of the group, but the road ahead is rockier and their inability to seal victory will be a concern for coach Murat Yakin.
They face Bosnia & Herzegovina at the Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday, while Qatar, who defended doggedly to thwart the classy Swiss, head north to face co-hosts Canada in Vancouver on the same day.
Despite the official attendance of 67,966, there were a number of empty seats at the NFL’s 70,000-seat home of the San Francisco 49ers, even as the crowd reached the highest stands.
The red-clad Swiss were out in force as team captain Granit Xhaka and veteran full-back Ricardo Rodriguez moved past Xherdan Shaqiri in their record 13th World Cup appearance for the nation, with only the late goal spoiling their milestone game.
