World Cup: Qatar stun Switzerland in injury-time as Bundesliga quartet feature
| Fran Santiago/Getty Images |
Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Nico Elvedi played the entire game in Switzerland’s disappointing draw with Qatar. Freiburg’s breakout star Johan Manzambi made his World Cup debut as a substitute, while Fabian Rieder from Augsburg and HSV’s Miro Muheim also featured in the second-half.
Kobel was called into action inside the first two minutes when Edmilson Junior suddenly found himself clear in goal. Dortmund’s shot-stopper finally went into a major tournament as Switzerland’s number one after former Gladbach and FC Bayern goalkeeper Yann Sommer retired from international football.
At the other end, Switzerland’s first two chances fell to Dan Ndoye, who was one of the only three players in the starting lineup with no Bundesliga experience. Remo Freuler is another one yet to play in Germany’s top-flight league, and he was instrumental in the first goal of the game in the 21st minute.
Qatar’s goalkeeper Mahmud Abunada was penalized when he smashed over Bologna’s central midfielder. Former Gladbach and Schalke striker Breel Embolo converted the resulting penalty-kick as he grabbed Switzerland’s first goal of the tournament, as he did four years ago against the country of his birth, Cameroon.
The Europeans were in full control of the game as Kobel only had to make one more save before the half-time break. Edmilson, who was also eligible to play for Belgium and Brazil, was once again the player with the shot on target.
Abunada went on to make decent saves to deny Ndoye and former Augsburg star Ruben Vargas before Michel Aebischer’s attempt was blocked on the goalline. Al-Rayyan’s custodian also had to make more saves in the second-half as Switzerland broke their record of most shots in a World Cup game.
However, it took one moment for Qatar to earn a precious point. Leonesa’s Homam Al Amin, who is the only player to ply his trade outside Qatar Stars League, produced a superb delivery as the 35-year-old center-back Boulaem Khoukhi beat Kobel with a powerful header in the 94th minute.
As a result, all four teams in Group B are level on points and goal difference. Murat Yakin’s Switzerland will hope to put behind the disappointment when they face Bosnia & Herzegovina, while Qatar play against co-hosts Canada.
