Boualem Khoukhi’s late header saw Qatar snatch a point against Switzerland in Group B in San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday lunchtime.
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Qatar goal: Boualem Khoukhi (90+4) Switzerland goal: Embolo (17, penalty)
Qatar snatched their first FIFA World Cup™ point as Boualem Khoukhi’s header four minutes into added time earned them a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in the San Francisco Bay Area sunshine on Saturday lunchtime.
Breel Embolo’s 17th-minute penalty looked set to prove the difference against a Qatar side competing at the World Cup for the first time on foreign soil. Instead Khoukhi climbed high at the back post to nod Homam Ahmed’s cross past Gregor Kobel, to leave the Swiss ruing their lack of cutting edge after a match in which they had 25 attempts.
They had much the better of the first half with Dan Ndoye threatening a couple of times already before Embolo’s goal, a spot-kick awarded after Mahmoud Abunada’s foul on Remo Freuler. Ndoye might have had a first half hat-trick while midfielder Michel Aebischer saw a shot cleared off the line just before the interval.
Qatar had actually had the opening opportunity when Edmilson Junior ran clear following a slip by Manuel Akanji in the second minute. However, the winger placed his shot too close to goalkeeper Gregor Kobel. Despite Switzerland’s supremacy, the same player threated again just before the break but Kobel saved with his foot.
By comparison, the second period was largely a low-key affair until, in the final quarter, after near-misses from Juan Vargas and Embolo, Khoukhi ensured a dramatic late twist.
Key stat
Appearing in their fourth World Cup finals tournament, Ricardo Rodriguez and Granit Xhaka made Swiss history with their joint-record 13th appearance on the global stage.
Superior Player of the Match
Mahmoud Abunada (Qatar)