World Cup shocker: Saudi Arabia upsets Lionel Messi’s Argentina
Lionel Messi stood along with his arms on his hips close to the middle circle, trying stone-faced as Saudi Arabia’s jubilant gamers ran in all instructions round him after scoring one of many greatest World Cup upsets ever towards Argentina.
The South American champion and one of many match favourites slumped to a 2-1 loss towards Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, in a deflating begin to Messi’s quest to win the one main title that has eluded him.
Saudi Arabia’s comeback joins the checklist of different main World Cup upsets: Cameroon’s 1-0 win over an Argentina staff led by Diego Maradona within the opening sport of the 1990 World Cup, Senegal’s 1-0 victory over titleholder France 1-0 within the 2002 match opener or the United States beating England by the identical rating in 1950.
Ladies and gents, we've acquired ourselves a #FIFAWorldCup UPSET! ???? pic.twitter.com/f2u9eBor9w
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 22, 2022
“Prior to the match, we were anointed as favourites,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated. “But this sort of stuff can happen in a World Cup.”
Messi gave Argentina the lead within the tenth minute with a coolly dispatched penalty, and the match had the makings of a routine win for the defending Copa America champion, which had been on a 36-match unbeaten run.
Didn’t end up that approach.
Goals by Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari in a five-minute span early within the second half gave the Saudis a landmark outcome within the first World Cup staged within the Middle East. The Saudis’ earlier greatest win was 1-0 over Belgium on the 1994 World Cup.
“All the stars aligned for us,” Saudi Arabia’s coach Herve Renard stated. “We made history for Saudi football.”
Argentina’s Messi taking part in in fifth and closing World Cup
The 35-year-old Messi, taking part in in his fifth — and sure his closing — World Cup for Argentina, scratched the facet of his head and shook arms with a Saudi teaching workers member after the ultimate whistle.
He walked towards the tunnel with a gaggle of different Argentina gamers and seemed despondent, an all-too-familiar scene for among the finest gamers ever who’s but to win soccer’s final prize.
“We screwed it up in the second half,” Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez stated. “Small details make a difference. We have to fix them.”
The unlikely victory was sealed by a somersault by Aldawsari, who introduced down a excessive ball simply contained in the penalty space, spun Nahuel Molina with the assistance of a ricochet, jinked previous Leandro Paredes and drove a robust shot to the far nook within the 53rd.
A surprised Messi watched as green-clad followers from Saudi Arabia, Qatar’s neighbour, celebrated in disbelief within the stands. Saudi Arabia’s substitutes swarmed onto the sphere.
Messi put Argentina forward from the penalty spot after the video assistant referee informed the referee to check out a jersey seize by Saud Abdulhamid on Paredes.
Saudi Arabia didn’t have a shot on purpose within the first half and seemed like conceding extra by taking part in with a excessive line, which resulted in Argentina getting in behind the Saudi protection with ease.
The Forty eighth-minute equalizer got here from Saudi Arabia’s first try heading in the right direction, with Alshehri discovering the far nook with an angled end that went via the legs of defender Cristian Romero and past the dive of goalkeeper Emi Martinez.
Goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais made two key saves late within the sport to protect the win.
Argentina performs Mexico in its second Group C match on Saturday.
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