In a dramatic opening match of the World Cup Group B, Qatar secured their first-ever point in the tournament’s history after a late goal by Boualem Khoukhi forced a 1-1 draw against Switzerland on Saturday. The equalizer came deep into added time, snatching a valuable result for the hosts.
Switzerland initially took the lead through a penalty converted by Breel Embolo early in the first half, capitalizing on a foul by Qatar’s goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada. The penalty was awarded after Abunada collided with midfielder Remo Freuler, despite some debate about a potential offside in the buildup. This goal set the tone for a match that Switzerland largely controlled but ultimately failed to close out.
Despite Switzerland’s dominance and early chances, including a missed opportunity by Manuel Akanji who sent Edmilson Junior clear but was denied by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, Qatar remained resilient. Their persistence paid off when Khoukhi scored in stoppage time, denying Switzerland a full three points and marking a historic moment for the Qatari side.
A Milestone for Lopetegui and Qatar
The match also represented a personal milestone for Qatar’s head coach Julen Lopetegui, who managed his first World Cup game. The 59-year-old Spanish coach had been expected to lead Spain in the 2018 World Cup but was dismissed just days before the tournament began after it was revealed he had agreed to join Real Madrid post-World Cup. Now at the helm of Qatar, Lopetegui achieved a notable breakthrough with this result.
For Switzerland, the draw will raise concerns as they aim to reach the knockout rounds for the fourth consecutive World Cup. Their inability to convert dominance into victory will surely weigh on coach Murat Yakin and his squad as they prepare for the upcoming fixtures.