Saudi Arabia stunned Lionel Messi’s Argentina to a shocking 2-1 defeat as tournament’s hot favourites started on the worst note possible at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on Tuesday.
Argentina entered the match as a clear favourite over the Saudi team and were viewed as potential contender to win tournament. They were in control right after the first whistle as the match was also heading to a projected way.
Captain Lionel Messi gave Argentina an early 1-0 lead as he converted a penalty on 10th minute to tip off for easy going to win the match when Saleh Al Shehri and then Salem Al Dawsari scored one goal each to shock to make the upset.
Argentina have never lost a match in World Cup in over six decades after scoring the first goal but this time Saudi Arabia gave them a bitter experience after coming from a goal down scoring two goals to win the match.
Argentina looked wasteful in contrast, who spent a lot of time camped around the box of Saudi Arabia but failed to create too many clear chances in the first half, though they can rue for their three goals were disallowed because of offside in the first half.
Courtesy of their accurate short passes, Argentina were controlling the tempo of the game excellently against Saudi Arabia, who seem to be chasing shadows at times.
But just minutes into the second half, Saudi Arabia scored a stunning equalizer through Saleh Al Shehri and then Salem Al Dawsari doubled the lead for his side, courtesy of a brilliant solo goal.
A shock from the Green Falcons that will have Argentina reeling, when Saleh Al-Shehri with a neat finish after a straight pass through the Argentinian defense on 48th minute (1-1).
Saudi Arabia took a shock 2-1 lead against Lionel Messi's Argentina with brilliant individual goals from Salem Al-Dawsari.
Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot to level the margin while Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina, one of the tournament favourites, looking shell-shocked.
Earlier in the first half, Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the spot after VAR intervention saw Argentina earn a penalty against Saudi Arabia.
Both Messi and Lautaro Martinez have seen multiple goals being denied by offside flags. But credits to Saudi Arabia for not letting the game go out of their hands at half-time, with Argentina only being 1-0 up at the break.
It was more than frustrating for Argentina when their three goals were disallowed due to offside by VAR decision when Martinez, who was the next man to have a goal ruled out for offside, that one looked a lot closer than the Messi chance.
With Messi on their side, who is playing his last World Cup tournament, La Albiceleste has been tipped as one of the strongest contenders for the elusive trophy with the assistance of attackers Ángel Di Maria and Lautaro Martínez, and midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Leandro Paredes but saw a huge upset in the very first match.
Meanwhile,Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten run ended after going down to Saudi Arabia.
After losing the match now the title contenders badly need two big performances against Mexico and Poland to create the chance of progressing.
Meanwhile, the Green Falcons will have their keeper Al-Owais to thank who caught almost everything that came his way in this match.