Boualem Khoukhi scored on a sensational header in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time as underdog Qatar stunned Switzerland in a 1-1 draw in their opening match in Group B play Saturday in Santa Clara, Calif.
Breel Embolo scored on a controversial penalty kick in the 17th minute for favored Switzerland, who entered the tournament ranked No. 19 in the world, according to FIFA, while Qatar holds the No. 56 slot.
Mahmoud Abunada had five saves as Qatar also gained their first-ever World Cup point. As the host country in their lone appearance in the tournament in 2022, they went 0-3-0 in group play.
Gregor Kobel had three saves for Switzerland, who have made it to the round of 16 in the last three World Cups.
Khoukhi’s last-chance goal came on a cross from the deep left side of the field by Homam Ahmed. Near the far post, Khoukhi rose over Swiss defender Miro Muheim and smacked his shot inside the top right corner.
Khoukhi’s heroics allowed Qatar to gain a point on a day when the Swiss dominated the action. Switzerland had possession for 68% of the match, had 526 accurate passes to 200 for Qatar and held a 10-3 edge in corners and an 8-1 advantage on through balls.
Switzerland pressured Qatar from the start, forcing Abunada to make two saves in the first 12 minutes, including a diving stop of an attempt by Dan Ndoye.
Abunada wasn’t as fortunate as he was called for a penalty when he lunged at Remo Freuler, his head crashing into the thigh of the Swiss midfielder.
Freuler had broken free in the goal mouth, poised to score on a headed feed from Embolo, but on the play the Swiss midfielder appeared to break offside.
After the call survived a video review and in the 17th minute, Embolo delivered the penalty kick, scoring easily into the bottom left corner after faking Abunada, who was headed in the opposite direction.
The 1-0 lead did little to relieve the pressure applied by the Swiss. Qatar remained on the defense for the rest of the half and after intermission.
In the 49th minute, Granit Xhaka fired a left-footed rocket from outside the box which Abunada tipped over the crossbar.
Switzerland continued to dominate the action until Qatar emerged in stoppage time.
The Swiss will now face Bosnia and Herzegovina Thursday afternoon in Inglewood, Calif. Later that day, Qatar takes on Canada in Vancouver.
–Field Level Media
