Qatar's historic World Cup campaign got off to a dramatic start as they secured their first ever point in the tournament with a stunning late equaliser against Switzerland. The match, played at Levi's Stadium in front of a largely empty crowd, saw Switzerland dominate possession and create numerous chances, but ultimately, it was Qatar who stole the show with a header from defender Boualem Khoukhi in stoppage time.
The Swiss had taken the lead in the 13th minute through a penalty from Breel Embolo, who kept his composure to send Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada the wrong way from the spot. However, the hosts continued to push for an equaliser, with captain Granit Xhaka sending a long-range effort over the bar in the second half.
Qatar's equaliser came in the dying minutes of the match, as a deep cross from left-back Homam Al Amin found its way through to defender Khoukhi at the back post, who powered a header into the corner. The goal sparked wild celebrations from the Qatar bench, and marked a significant moment in the history of the Gulf state's national team.
Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin was left frustrated with his team's inability to convert their chances, saying 'If you look at the statistics, we had 26 shots today, but we only ended up warming up the goalkeeper. I think we need to work on our precision and our belief.'
Qatar boss Julen Lopetegui, meanwhile, expressed his admiration for the Swiss team, saying 'I have a big admiration for Switzerland. When you analyse each player, they have top players in all positions, and on the bench, too. I am sure that they have the possibility to go far in this World Cup.'