Qatar won their first-ever point at a World Cup finals as a dramatic injury-time equaliser earned a 1-1 draw against a lacklustre Switzerland in the second game of Group B on Saturday.
Canada had drawn with Bosnia-Herzegovina in the group’s opener on Friday night, giving favourites Switzerland the chance to take an early lead at the top of the four-team standings – an opportunity they forfeited quite spectacularly.
After Breel Embolo’s first-half penalty had them on course for victory, they contrived to throw away their lead with virtually the last act of the game, punished for a casual performance lacking in cutting edge.
Late in stoppage time, Homam Ahmed hung up a hopeful ball to the back post, where Boualem Khoukhi arrived with perfect timing to appear to power a superb header home, but it was later ruled an own goal by Swiss midfielder Miro Muheim.
Switzerland, tipped to be dark horses at this tournament, amassed 26 shots, with an xG value of 3.24, but had only one goal to show for their casual efforts – scored from the spot. Spurning so many openings always made them liable to giving up a chance late on, and as it turned out, Qatar only needed one to impact the scoreline.
Gary Neville called Switzerland a level below ‘class’ on ITV coverage. It leaves every side in Group B level on one point after the first round of games, wide open for any nation to try to secure qualification to the knockout phase.
More on Sky Sports
