Switzerland Dominates Qatar but Leads Only 1-0 at Halftime

Live updates: Qatar vs Switzerland

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By Simon Smale

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Key Events

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Qatar vs Switzerland

43

Goals

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71' Akram Afif goes on a run

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By Simon Smale

He might need a map to negotiate this part of the pitch because he's not been up here before.

And in the end, he turns down a blind alley and is dispossessed.

Arguably that was Qatar's best moment of the half.

68' Chance Switzerland, drinks break

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By Simon Smale

Vargas has been so good today - and he sparks another little moment for Switzerland, cutting the ball back to Granit Xhaka.

He's on the left side of the box and curls a really nice-looking cross towards the back post, but the ball was a bit too deep for a cross and a bit too curly for a shot.

We're gunna have a drink.

66' Double change for the Swiss

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By Simon Smale

Fabian Rieder and Johan Manzambi replace Michel Aebischer and Dan Ndoye.

Manzambi is the 20-year-old star from Freiburg that a lot of people are quite excited about, so I am looking forward to seeing what he can do.

62' Superb from Vargas

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By Simon Smale

That is really impressive from the Swiss number 17.

He loses the ball in the attacking third, but then wins it back and embarks on a mazy run past a couple of Qatari defenders before he is slashed down on the edge of the penalty area.

The Qatari's instantly say he's diving, but there was clear contact.

The free kick is send into a dangerous area but Qatar clears.

59' Triple change for Qatar

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By Simon Smale

I mean, they need to do something and that something is to make a triple change.

Ayoub Al Oui is replaced by Ahmed Fathy.

Jassem Gaber is replaced by Karim Boudiaf.

And Yusuf Abdurisag gives way for Ahmed Alaa to come on.

53' Incessant pressure from Switzerland

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By Simon Smale

There just seems to be no way out for Qatar at the moment - every time Switzerland come forward there are 11 Qatari shirts in and around their own penalty area, with no outlet ball at all.

They are hanging on for dear life here.

Even then, Yusuf Abdurisag was up field, a lone wolf in the Swiss half, but couldn't control a ball that has hacked towards him from deep more by luck than judgement.

50' Chance Switzerland

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By Simon Smale

Dan Ndoye gets the ball inside the penalty area - not sure how Qatar didn't clear that cross as it came over and I think the fact that it did arrive at Ndoye's feet surprised him a bit, but he still manages a shot towards goal that flies just wide.

49' Trio of Swiss chances

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By Simon Smale

Rubén Vargas swings in a free kick from the left side and Qatar heads behind for a corner.

Rubén Vargas then trots over to the other side of the field and delivers a corner that Qatar clears.

Then a monster effort from Granit Xhaka, who delivers a piledriver from 30 metres out that fizzes just over the crossbar.

46' Qatar gets us underway in the second 45

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By Simon Smale

Horrible deep kick off from Qatar.

Just long and deep and into the corner as if they're kicking off an NRL match. With the lack of possession the Qatari's had in that first half, you'd have felt they'd have liked to have a touch of the ball or two to start the second half.

Should the Swiss penalty have stood?

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By Simon Smale

There seems to be some discussion going on in the UK about whether there was an offside in the build up to the move that resulted in the Swiss penalty.

"Surely my vision isn't that blurred," former Arsenal and England defender Lee Dixon said on ITV.

"Unless I missed something, he looked offside from the header."

I have to admit, when I was watching that was something I thought was going to be looked at.

Turns out I wasn't the only one.

"We all think it here [that it was offside]," Gary Neville tells ITV.

"Everybody at home thinks it. Fifa are the host broadcaster and they have the semi-automatic decision that they can show us.

"There is a massive question over that because it is offside in my eyes until they prove me different."

There was a lengthy VAR check which I assumed would have included the automated VAR review, but I can see how it might have been missed in amongst all the penalty chat.

Half time stats

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By Simon Smale

The Swiss are absolutely dominating this game.

And the stats reveal by just how much.

Switzerland have had 14 shots, six of which have been on target for an xG (expected goals) of 2.27.

Qatar have an xG of 0.45, having had four shots just two of which were on target.

There's no doubt that a combination of desperate defence and exceptional goalkeeping is keeping Qatar in this game.

Switzerland are dominating the midfield battle - Qatar have barely had a touch in the middle third of the pitch it seems - and the neat interplay up front from the attacking trio is a joy to behold.

HT: Switzerland tearing Qatar apart but leads just 1-0

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By Simon Smale

That was a dominant half of football for Switzerland.

But they only lead by a single goal after some heroic goalkeeping and last-ditch defending.

Switzerland have had all the possession, almost 75 per cent of it in fact, and have had 14 shots on goal.

But they have only scored the one, a penalty by Breel Embolo mid way through the opening half.

Good display so far, but can the Swiss get a couple more to make sure of the win?

45+6' Cleared off the line!

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By Simon Smale

The Swiss simply have to score there!

Once again it's lovely build up play, the Qatari defence all over the place.

Mahmud Abunada came out to close down the space, missed out on getting the ball and then was in no man's land.

Switzerland centred the ball and, with the goal at his mercy, Michel Aebischer hits a defender with his shot and the ball is hammered away to safety.

45+3' BRILLIANT SAVE AGAIN!

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By Simon Smale

Brilliant from Switzerland.

Brilliant football, attacking with pace and accuracy and cutting the Qatari lines to shreds.

Rubén Vargas is played in and lashes a shot towards goal from inside the six yard box.

And it's another brilliant save from Mahmud Abunada.

He somehow gets his legs out to deflect the ball past the post.

Remarkable dexterity to make that stop.

45+1' Good save!

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By Simon Smale

Mahmud Abunada has been very impressive today.

Aside from giving away a penalty.

Dan Ndoye uses his strength to give himself the time to allow the ball to fall under his control and then powers a shot towards goal.

Mahmud Abunada makes a very good save though to keep his side in it.

There will be six additional minutes.

43' Good save!

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By Simon Smale

Edmilson Junior latches onto a through ball and shoots first time from the right side of the penalty area and forces a tidy save from the Swiss keeper.

Akram Afif then has a furious argument with the assistant referee on that far side of the pitch about where the ball is being placed for the corner kick. I can't imagine what he's arguing about - and why the assistant is taking his protests.

42' Zakaria yellow card

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By Simon Smale

Qatar look to break through the middle after a blocked shot in their own penalty area.

Denis Zakaria making a very cynical block to shut that down.

41' Good save again Mahmud Abunada

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By Simon Smale

The Swiss were so patient, building up and pouncing down the left side.

Michel Aebischer is played in and just lets the cross get away from him, firing a ball that ends up going goalwards and Abunada does really well to turn it away for a corner.