Saudi Arabia Stun Argentina

Saudi Arabia have shocked Argentina with two second-half goals to beat one of the pre-tournament favourites in their opening World Cup match, marking the first upset of the 2022 edition of the sport’s biggest event.

It all seemed 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 in the box.

Argentina then attacked with ferocity as Saudi Arabia struggled to contain them. Messi had the ball in the back of the net not long after his first, only for the goal to be ruled offside.

Another offside goal followed after Lautaro Martinez dinked the ball over Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais with a cool finish. He reeled away towards the Argentina fans, who had been in fine voice, only for VAR to turn down the goal because of a marginal offside.

In a thoroughly dominant first-half display, Argentina held nearly two-thirds possession but failed to capitalise, straying offside seven times in total.

In the second half, a reinvigorated Saudi team took the field. Saleh Al-Shehri opened their scoring in the 48th minute after latching onto a long ball before guiding a shot through Argentine goalkeeper Damián Martinez’s legs and into the far corner.

The Saudi fans went into raptures as they celebrated a goal, which at the time seemed to go against the run of play. But more was to come.

A few minutes later, winger Salem al-Dawsari cut inside and curled a beauty into the top corner of the goal. If the first half had belonged to Argentina, it was Saudi Arabia’s moment to shine in the second as their fans celebrated in excitement — and possibly some disbelief — at Lusail Stadium.

Argentina tried their best to draw level, but some resolute defending and a string of fine saves from the Saudi keeper stopped them from scoring.

- aljazeera.com