FIFA World Cup Group B has its first games in the book and all four teams are level with one point, following Switzerland's draw against Qatar at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The Swiss will rue this result if they don't advance. They dominated the match in every possible way, launching 28 shot attempts and getting 10 on frame. Yet the only one they got past Qatar keeper Mahmud Abunada was on a penalty given when Abunada fouled a Swiss forward in the box.
Qatar finally broke through in second-half stoppage time, scoring off a cross to Boualem Khoukhi whose header attempt carried the momentum into Swiss defender Miro Muheim who headed the ball into his own net. Muheim was credited with an own-goal at 90+4'.
My take: One could feel the equalizer coming. Once Qatar got desperate towards the end of regulation, they started connecting passes and applying some pressure to the Swiss. It was building and they got the finish they needed against a side 31 spots higher than them in the world rankings.
THE ASYLUM
Qatar shocks Swiss
FIFA World Cup Group B has its first games in the book and all four teams are level with one point, following Switzerland's draw against Qatar at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.
The Swiss will rue this result if they don't advance. They dominated the match in every possible way, launching 28 shot attempts and getting 10 on frame. Yet the only one they got past Qatar keeper Mahmud Abunada was on a penalty given when Abunada fouled a Swiss forward in the box.
Qatar finally broke through in second-half stoppage time, scoring off a cross to Boualem Khoukhi whose header attempt carried the momentum into Swiss defender Miro Muheim who headed the ball into his own net. Muheim was credited with an own-goal at 90+4'.
My take: One could feel the equalizer coming. Once Qatar got desperate towards the end of regulation, they started connecting passes and applying some pressure to the Swiss. It was building and they got the finish they needed against a side 31 spots higher than them in the world rankings.
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