ARGENTINA got off to the worst possible start in their World Cup campaign after being stunned by Saudi Arabia.
Lionel Messi opened the scoring early courtesy of a coolly dispatched penalty.
However, Saudi Arabia’s quick fire double in the second half has left the World Cup favourites stunned as they see their 36-match unbeaten run go up in smoke.
- RESULT: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
- Argentina XI: Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Gomez, Di Maria, Messi, Martinez
- Saudi Arabia XI: Al Owais, Abdulhamid, Al Boleahi, Al Buraikan, Al Dawsari, Al Faraj, Al Malki, Al Shahrani, Al Shehri, Kanno, Tambakti
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Martinez reacts
The Argentina striker had the ball in the back of the net twice today, but both goals were chalked off for offiside.
This hurts a lot. We had big hope of starting the World Cup with a win. but this is over now and we must train and think about what’s to come.
Lautaro Martinez, Argentina striker
The winning goal
Al Dawsari with a moment of magic.
The world is on their feet
Cheers and clapping can be heard from the Virtual Stadium 2 in the Main Media Centre of Qatar.
The Virtual stadium is one of two large cinemas where media can watch games and take part in post-match press conferences.
Credit: EPA Credit: Reuters
From Andrew Dillon at Lusail Stadium
SunSport’s Andrew Dillon, who is in the stands right now, has this report from Qatar:
A STUNNING GAME of two halves in a vast stadium where nobody can buy a pint.
Even the strictly sober Saudis must have fancied a Bud to toast the most remarkable result in their football history and one which is sending shockwaves through the World Cup.
From a goal down after ten minutes and three hair’s-breadth offside decisions going in their favour in the first half, the Arab minnows came storming back to beat one of the tournament favourites.
And Argentina’s bewildered skipper Lionel Messi would have been proud to score both the high quality goals which condemned the two-times world champions to an almighty giant killing.
He had stabbed his team ahead in the tenth minute by stroking home a penalty following a foul on Juve’s Leandro Paredes.
It marked the veteran’s 92nd goal in 162 games for his country and it looked like this Group C opener would become another routine rollover.
But when Messi and strike partner Lautaro Martinez had a hat-trick of narrow offsides go against them in the first half this game began turning on its head.
The introduction of ultra-sensitive new technology caught them out time and time again but yet there was still a feeling that vastly experienced Messi would lead his in-form team mates to eventual victory.
Argentina were unbeaten in 36 games going into a game they were expected to stroll. And maybe that was their biggest mistake.
Saudi’s French coach Herve Renard insists his country is not here just for a ‘jolly’ but try wiping the smiles off their faces now.
In just five minutes they upended the entire 2022 World Cup with football’s equivalent of an Arab Spring.
Just three minutes into the second half Saudi forward Saleh Al Shehri picked up a threaded through ball on a run towards the Argentina box but the danger looked well covered.
Only Tottenham’s normally formidable centre half Cristian Romero uncharacteristically went all Spursy and shied away from making a tackle.
Instead he allowed his opponent to outpace him over five yards then plant a laser-like shot across the face of goal into the opposite corner of the net.
We can only suspect Argentina were in shock because shortly afterwards the entire defence crumbled.
Saudi’s star man Salem Al Dawsari picked up the ball on the right hand edge of the box. A 180 degree turn later he glided past three defenders before striking a rising shot which Aston Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez could only paw into the back of his net.
Saudi Arabia are 51st in the world, have never been beyond the last 16 at a World Cup and have won only one game at a finals since 1994. That shows what this result means to them.
Seeing the Argentina team on the deck at the final whistle shows what this humiliation means to them.
Saudi’s heroic rearguard action was topped by a headed clearance off the line by Abdulelah Al Amri in injury time but gallant defender Yasser Al Shahrani was Ko’d by a knee to the head from his own keeper.
Andrew Dillon
FULL-TIME – Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
TAKE A BREATH. SAUDI ARABIA MAKE HISTORY IN QATAR.
One of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, in football history, in sporting history. This will be talked about for years to come.
Saudi Arabia, take a bow.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+10, Al Owais saves!
Alvarez sends a looping header and the keeper dives like a falcon through the sky to keep Saudi dreams alive.
Di Maria then curls an ugly ball out for a goal kick. Have they done it now?
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+10, Acuna swings in another corner and the saudis survive once more.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+9, Al Shahrani raises a thumbs up for his family and Argentina have one final corner…
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+7, Al Shahrani is thankfully back to his feet.
He will be carried off on the stretcher as Saudi Arabia look to see out the final moments.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+5, Al Shahrani is down on the deck after taking his keeper’s knee to the head.
Al Owasi looks distressed next to him. This doesn’t look good at all.
The referee ignored him in the first instance, as he laid there out cold.
Credit: Getty Credit: Getty Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+3, Al-Dawsari is frustratingly called offside near the opposition corner flag.
Argentina can launch at least one more attack.
Saudi Arabia can taste one of the greatest World Cup upsets in history.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90+1, Cleared off the line!
Al Amiri heads off Alvarez’s effort from the line.
Al Owais is then booked for complaining.
And then the flag is raised for offside. What a strange set of events, but Saudi Arabia are still in the lead and that’s all they will care about.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
90, There will be eight minutes added time.
If you are just tuning in, this is really happening.
Credit: Getty Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
89, Renard makes some more changes as the bookings continue to be waved for time wasting.
Al Amiri and Asir are on.
Al Abed and Al Buraikan are on.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
87, Boos ring out as their striker Firas isn’t allowed to come back on.
Argentina surge forward and Di Maria curls one into Martinez. A heroic Tambakti hooks the ball away from the striker and lumps it up field.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
86, Firas takes a break off the pitch after picking up a knock. Understandably, he’s in no rush.
We can expect a fair chunk of added time I’m sure.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
85, Five minutes of normal time left.
Argentina haven’t lost a game in which they scored first since 1958!
They believe.
Credit: Getty Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
83, Massive chance for Messi!
Di Maria curls in a ball to the back post where Messi was waiting unmarked.
His header lacks power and is straight at the keeper.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
80, It wasn’t to be.
Messi curls it well over the upright. A wince of disappointment across his face.
By his standards, that was poor.
Credit: Reuters Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
78, Messi is clipped on the edge of the area in prime Messi territory.
The world watches on once more. Can he do it…
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
77, Al Bolehi is booked for time wasting. No surprise really.
Meanwhile, the referee has to hurry Al Shehri off the pitch, who is very unhappy about being taken off.
Al Ghannam is on.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
75, Fernandez gets above his man and meets the corner, but his header goes high and into the stands.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
74, De Paul slides Martinez in behind Saudi Arabia’s high line but this time Al Owais had read it well, sprinting forward and thumping it up field.
To think Argentina have had three goals ruled out for offside.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
72, Fernandez flashes a dangerous ball across the six-yard box, but no one in blue and white had gambled.
It came back to Messi who slides in Di Maria. His shot is saved, and eventually held on to by Al Owais.
Argentina are threatening.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
70, Acuna is on for Tagliafico.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
