Qatar earn dramatic draw towards Switzerland

Qatar’s Boualem Khoukhi surprised Switzerland with a late equaliser as the edges performed out a 1-1 draw of their opening Group B match on the World Cup on Saturday.

A Breel Embolo penalty had damaged the impasse for Switzerland early within the first half within the San Francisco Bay Space, earlier than the wasteful favourites have been made to pay as Qatar earned their first ever level at a World Cup.

Qatar, showing in simply their second finals after internet hosting the 2022 World Cup, appeared rusty after their preparations have been disrupted by the Center East struggle, which means their assembly with Switzerland was simply their third match since December final yr.

And for almost all of the match they have been outclassed as Switzerland racked up 26 pictures, earlier than 35-year-old Khoukhi’s header 4 minutes into harm time sparked wild celebrations on the Qatar bench.

“I’m very pleased with the group,” mentioned Qatar’s Spanish coach Julen Lopetegui.

“I instructed them that even when we hadn’t scored the objective and did not draw I might have been pleased with the mentality and self-discipline that they confirmed right this moment.

“However happily we scored and that was historical past.”

For Lopetegui it was additionally a landmark second as he coached his first World Cup match — eight years later than he thought it might need been.

The 59-year-old had been set to information Spain on the 2018 version in Russia, however was sacked days earlier than the beginning of the event after it was introduced he had agreed to take over Actual Madrid after the World Cup.

‘Little bit fortunate’

The Swiss are in search of to progress to the knockout levels for the fourth consecutive World Cup however their incapability to kill off a match they dominated will fear coach Murat Yakin.

Manuel Akanji provided Qatar the primary huge probability of the match in simply the second minute as his defensive lapse despatched Edmilson Junior via, however he might solely shoot tamely at Gregor Kobel.

That permit-off awakened the Swiss, who have been awarded a penalty on 13 minutes as goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada clattered into Remo Freuler, regardless of a suspicion of offside, and after a four-minute stoppage Embolo despatched the goalkeeper the mistaken approach from the spot.

The remainder of the opening interval was one-way site visitors in direction of the Qatar field however Edmilson practically caught the Swiss chilly simply earlier than half-time, drawing a right-footed save from Kobel on the finish of a uncommon foray ahead.

Below a blazing Californian solar the probabilities dried up within the second interval with essentially the most notable moments a Granit Xhaka drive from distance that whizzed narrowly over the bar and an Embolo poke that nestled within the facet netting.

However finally Switzerland have been made to pay for his or her profligacy as Khoukhi powered in on the again put up to bullet dwelling a 94th-minute equaliser.

“We have been just a little bit fortunate typically however you should imagine and work to have just a little little bit of luck in life and in sport,” mentioned Lopetegui.

“So we’re very glad for the gamers.”

Switzerland subsequent play Bosnia on Thursday in Los Angeles, whereas Qatar meet co-hosts Canada in Vancouver on the identical day.