Saudi Arabia’s historic World Cup win over Argentina within the Group C opener got here at a price.
Whereas defending their 2-1 lead within the fifth minute of stoppage time, Saudi Arabia goalie Mohammed Alowais inadvertently struck teammate and star defender Yasser Al-Shahrani within the face with a flying knee as he got here storming off his line to punch away an Argentina cross.
Alowais and different teammates instantly appeared involved for Al-Shahrani as they frantically waved trainers to hurry out to him mendacity on the bottom. A 30-year-old who performs for membership aspect Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Al-Shahrani seemed to be bleeding as he was tended to.
Unable to stroll off the pitch beneath his personal energy, Al-Shahrani was carried off on a stretcher.
Because of the harm and the sport being paused for a couple of minutes, Saudi Arabia was compelled to defend their now-famous lead for a number of additional minutes. Regardless of referee Slavko Vincici initially awarding eight further minutes, the ultimate whistle was not blown till the eleventh minute of stoppage time.
One of the vital skilled on the staff, it might be an enormous blow for Saudi Arabia – who now instantly has authentic hope to advance to the knockout stage – if Al-Shahrani’s harm forces him to overlook any time. Saudi Arabia subsequent performs Poland on Saturday.
Al-Shahrani’s harm comes simply at some point after Iran’s goalie, Alireza Beiranvand, stirred controversy after taking a blow to his head within the nation’s opening loss to England. After the collision, Beiranvand appeared severely injured and stayed on the bottom whereas being handled by docs. Though backup goalie Hossein Hosseini was warming up and prepared, Iran opted to depart Beiranvand within the sport with out coming off the sector. (Injured outfield gamers are allowed to briefly come off the sector whereas play resumes to check their health earlier than being formally subbed out, however goalies can’t actually go away their aim unattended.)
As quickly as play resumed, nonetheless, Beiranvand went again to the bottom and was subsequently changed by Hosseini.
Mohammed Al-Owais catches teammate Yasser Al-Shahrani with a flying knee throughout stoppage time.
Saudi Arabian gamers frantically urge medics to hurry onto the sector.
Yasser Al-Shahrani is stretchered off the sector.
Coming into the match because the second-biggest underdog solely to host-nation Qatar, Saudi Arabia scored two second-half objectives to safe their comeback over Argentina – and one of many greatest World Cup upsets within the competitors’s historical past.
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