Qatar salvaged a dramatic late point in their FIFA World Cup Group B opener against Switzerland after a stoppage-time strike from Boualem Khoukhi secured a 1-1 draw in the 95th minute.
Despite the late equaliser, Switzerland were largely dominant throughout the contest, controlling possession and creating the clearer chances.
The Europeans finished with 24 shots to Qatar’s 6, and 7 attempts on target compared to Qatar’s 3, reflecting their superiority for much of the match.
The breakthrough came in the 17th minute when Switzerland were awarded a penalty after a reckless challenge by Qatari goalkeeper Mahmoud Ibrahim Mah Abunada.
Breel Embolo stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to give Switzerland an early lead.
Qatar, who had previously failed to win a match in their World Cup history despite hosting the 2022 tournament, finally earned their first-ever point at the competition.
The result leaves Group B evenly poised after the opening round, following a 1-1 draw between Canada and Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
Qatar will now head to Vancouver for a crucial clash with Canada, while Switzerland will aim to recover when they face Bosnia and Herzegovina in their next fixture.
