Argentina stunned by Saudi Arabia
One of the 2022 World Cup favorites is going to have to fight to make it out of the group stage.
Argentina was stunned 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the Group C stage on Tuesday morning.
Argentina jumped to a 1-0 lead on an early Lionel Messi penalty kick goal. However, Saudi Arabia scored two goals by Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al-Dawsari early in the second half and held onto the lead to cement the massive upset.
Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run ended at the Lusail Stadium in Messi’s fifth —and likely last— World Cup.
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The Paris Saint-Germain star shook hands with a Saudi coaching staff member after the final whistle and stood with his hands on his hips near the center circle, an all-too familiar scene for one of the best players ever who is yet to win the biggest prize in soccer.
The unlikely victory was sealed by a somersault by Aldawsari, who brought down a high ball just inside the penalty area, turned one defender, jinked past another and drove a powerful shot past goalkeeper Emi Martinez, who got a hand on the ball but couldn’t keep out of the net in the 53rd.
A stunned Messi watched as scores of green-clad fans from Saudi Arabia, Qatar’s neighbor, celebrated in in disbelief in the stands. Saudi Arabia’s substitutes stormed the field.
Messi put Argentina ahead from the penalty spot after the video assistant referee told the referee to take a look at a jersey grab by Saud Abdulhamid on Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes.
With Saudi Arabia’s first shot in goal, Saleh Alshehri found the bottom corner with an angled finish through the legs of defender Cristian Romero.
— With AP
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