Qatar ties with Switzerland (1-1)
Qatar pocketed its first-ever World Cup point!
Sports Desk, June 3 (EFE).-
A 95th-minute header by Boualem Khoukhi earned the Qatar national team a 1-1 draw against Switzerland. This was Qatar’s first-ever World Cup point, as the team had never before managed to avoid a loss at a World Cup. It was a wild start to the group stage.
The result was especially meaningful for Qatar’s manager, Julen Lopetegui. It offered him a bit of personal redemption, coming exactly eight years after he was famously fired from the Spanish national team just before their 2018 tournament opener.
Qatar’s goalkeeper, Mahmoud Abunada, was the clear standout player. He kept the team in the match with several heroic saves, which more than made up for the early penalty he conceded to Switzerland’s Breel Embolo.
Switzerland controlled the game with 75% possession, but they struggled to find a second goal to put the match away. They played a bit too cautiously, missing key chances that came back to haunt them as the game wore on.
Just as time was running out, Boualem Khoukhi headed in a cross from Homam Ahmed in the 95th minute to tie it up. It was a dramatic finish that left the group wide open for all the teams involved.
Match Stats:
1 – Catar: Ibrahim Abunada; Ayoub Al Oui (Ahmed Fathi, m.60), Pedro Miguel, Boualem Khoukhi, Homam Ahmed; Assim Madibo (Mohammad Al Mannai, m.79), Jassem Gaber (Karim Boudiaf, m.60), Gueye Laye; Junior Edmilson (Hasan Al Haydos, m.89), Akram Afif y Joussef Abdurisag (Alaaeldin Ahmed, m.60).
Manager: Julen Lopetegui 1 – Suiza: Gregor Kobel; Manuel Akanji, Nico Elvedi, Denis Zakaria; Michel Aebischer (Fabian Rieder, m.65), Remo Freuler (Ardon Jasari, m.89), Granit Xhaka, Ricardo Rodriguez (Miro Muheim, m.89); Dan Ndoye (Johan Manzambi, m.65), Ruben Vargas (Zeki Amdouni, m.79) y Breel Embolo.
Manager: Murat Yakin Goals: 0-1, 17′: Breel Embolo (penalty); 1-1, 95′: Khoukhi.
Referee: Said MartÃnez (HON). Yellow cards: Ibrahim Abunada, Jassem Gaber (Qatar); Denis Zakaria (Switzerland).
Match details: 2026 World Cup Group B, Matchday 1. Held at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California, before 67,966 spectators. EFE
apa/dmv
