Within the first upset of the 2022 World Cup, Saudi Arabia take down the two-time champions 2-1.
Saudi Arabia have shocked Argentina with two second-half targets to beat one of many pre-tournament favourites of their opening World Cup match, marking the primary upset of the 2022 version of the game’s largest occasion.
All of it gave the impression to be going to plan for the Argentines on Tuesday after their captain and talisman Lionel Messi slotted in a penalty 10 minutes after Saud Abdulhamid hauled down Leandro Paredes within the field.
Argentina then attacked with ferocity as Saudi Arabia struggled to include them. Messi had the ball behind the web not lengthy after his first, just for the purpose to be dominated offside.
One other offside purpose adopted after Lautaro Martinez dinked the ball over Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais with a cool end. He reeled away in direction of the Argentina followers, who had been in high-quality voice, just for VAR to show down the purpose due to a marginal offside.
In a completely dominant first-half show, Argentina held practically two-thirds possession however didn't capitalise, straying offside seven instances in whole.
A recreation of two halves
Within the second half, a reinvigorated Saudi workforce took the sector. Saleh Al-Shehri opened their scoring within the forty eighth minute after latching onto a protracted ball earlier than guiding a shot by way of Argentine goalkeeper Damián Martinez’s legs and into the far nook.
The Saudi followers went into raptures as they celebrated a purpose, which on the time appeared to go towards the run of play. However extra was to return.
A couple of minutes later, winger Salem al-Dawsari minimize inside and curled a magnificence into the highest nook of the purpose. If the primary half had belonged to Argentina, it was Saudi Arabia’s second to shine within the second as their followers celebrated in pleasure — and presumably some disbelief — at Lusail Stadium.
Argentina tried their greatest to attract degree, however some resolute defending and a string of high-quality saves from the Saudi keeper stopped them from scoring.
Messi — who has received each different main trophy he has competed for, aside from the World Cup — minimize a forlorn determine in direction of the tip as he struggled to drag Argentina again into the match. He uncharacteristically guided a close-range header into the palms of Al-Owais within the ultimate minutes, a miss that in some ways was emblematic of Argentina’s efficiency on the day.
There was extra drama left, although. 5 minutes into stoppage time, Al-Owais charged out of purpose and by chance kneed al-Dawsari, who obtained prolonged therapy for his knock earlier than being stretchered off.
Historical past made
Saudi Arabia had by no means crushed Argentina of their earlier 4 encounters. Their win over the pre-game favourites sparked wild celebrations within the stadium and throughout Doha. It was additionally the primary victory for a Center Jap facet on the World Cup, which the area had by no means hosted earlier than. Host Qatar misplaced to Ecuador on Sunday, and Iran had been defeated by England on Monday.
Mexico and Poland are the opposite groups other than Argentina and Saudi Arabia in Group C. Argentina had been the odds-on favourites to maneuver to the subsequent stage on the prime of the group. Now they’ll must struggle for that – whereas Saudi Arabia bask within the glory of their largest soccer win ever.
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