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Qatar grabbed their first FIFA World Cup point in dramatic style, holding Switzerland to a 1-1 draw in their Group B match at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on Saturday lunchtime, which was late Saturday night in India. For long spells, this looked like Switzerland’s game. Then came the twist in added time.

Breel Embolo had put Switzerland ahead from the penalty spot in the 17th minute after Mahmoud Abunada fouled Remo Freuler. Qatar stayed in the contest, survived wave after wave of Swiss pressure, and were rewarded in the 94th minute when substitute Miro Muheim headed Homam Ahmed’s cross into his own net under pressure from Boualem Khoukhi.

Switzerland will look at this result and feel they dropped two points. Murat Yakin’s side had 26 attempts, controlled large parts of the first half, and had enough chances to finish the match before Qatar’s late equaliser.

Dan Ndoye was lively early on and could have had a first-half hat-trick. Michel Aebischer saw an effort cleared off the line before the break. Embolo also went close after halftime, but Switzerland could not find the second goal.

Qatar had their moments too. Edmilson Junior ran through in the second minute after Manuel Akanji slipped, but his shot was too close to Gregor Kobel. He tested Kobel again before halftime.

Qatar coach Julen Lopetegui called the point historic. “It was already historic just being here. To get a point today against Switzerland, who for me are one of the best teams in Europe right now – really solid, with continuity with their coach and top players from top leagues – is important,” he said.

Yakin was clear about Switzerland’s finishing problem. “If you look at the statistics, we had 26 shots today but we only ended up warming up the goalkeeper,” he said.

Swiss captain Granit Xhaka did not hide his disappointment. “If you don’t take your chances up front, they’ll come back to bite you,” he said.

Ricardo Rodriguez and Xhaka also made Swiss history with their joint-record 13th World Cup appearance, but the night ended with Qatar celebrating a point that once looked gone.