Qatar celebrated their first World Cup point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland as captain Boualem Khoukhi headed in an equalizer in stoppage time to send the Gulf nation into jubilation on Saturday.
Khoukhi rose highest to tap in Homam Ahmed’s cross in the 94th minute and cancel out a Breel Embolo penalty in the first half, leaving the Swiss stunned and sad after failing to convert 26 goal attempts to Qatar’s seven.
The result left Group B wide open, with all teams locked on one point each after Canada’s 1-1 draw against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Qatar will be by far the most satisfied of them, four years after their 2022 debut failed with a winless exit at home.
The entire Qatar team burst onto the pitch in ecstasy after Khoukhi’s header was fired by Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, giving Spaniard Julen Lopetegui a historic result in his first World Cup match.
“We realized a dream when we arrived here, to be here, and today it’s another little dream,” Lopetegui told reporters. “And we have the right to continue dreaming.”
Qatari goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada was also understandably delighted, after fouling Remo Freuler and giving the Swiss their penalty in the 17th minute.
“This is the first point in the history of the Qatari national team. Praise be to God in all circumstances,” Abunada said.
“Honestly, the match was played with great determination on everyone’s part. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds.”
Switzerland may feel like the footballing gods have abandoned them, having seen chance after chance with Dan Ndoye particularly wasteful in the first half.
But everything was in place for the group favorites when Abunada collided with Freuler in the penalty area.
Freuler hit an Embolo header in the area, sent the ball towards goal past Abunada and was heavily greeted by the stopper who was second in the clash.
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 tended to by medical staff.
While Michel Aebischer scored a sixth Swiss shot on goal, stopped on the deep line in stoppage time in the first half, the Qatari attackers found themselves with remains.
The danger of Qatar
The Asian champions’ dangerous player Akram Afif was well chained but found space on the flank late in the half to set up Edmilson for a one-time shot saved by Kobel.
With Qatar camped in rows in front of goal, the match was meandering in the second half and a series of substitutions on both sides of the drinks interval did nothing to break the stasis.
That was until Ahmed found Khoukhi with a sumptuous cross to snatch a draw, leaving groups of Qataris in thobe jumping into the stands.
Switzerland may still be keen to get out of the group, but the road ahead is tougher and their inability to seal victory will be a concern for coach Murat Yakin.
They face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday, while Qatar, who fought back hard to thwart the stylish Switzerland, head north to meet co-hosts Canada in Vancouver the same day.
Despite an official attendance of 67,966, there were rows of empty seats in the 70,000-seat stadium of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, even as the crowd reached the highest stands.
The red-clad Swiss were out in force as team captain Granit
