Argentina vs Saudi Arabia LIVE: World Cup 2022 result and reaction as Saudi Arabia claim stunning shock win
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Lionel Messi scored early on but a stunning comeback ensured an all-time great World Cup shock
Saudi Arabia beat Argentina to record one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with a 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s side thanks to a scintillating second-half comeback.
On his fifth and final quest for the only major trophy to elude him, the 35-year-old Messi scored a 10th-minute penalty in a dominant first-half display where he and Lautaro Martinez also had three goals disallowed for offside.
But Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament after Ghana, threw caution to the wind at the start of the second half, charging at Argentina’s defence in front of a frenzied 88,012 crowd.
Saleh Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot in the 48th minute while Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina and Messi looking utterly shell-shocked in the Group C opener. Despite plenty of possession after that, Argentina were unable to best Saudi Arabia, who were competing in their sixth World Cup but had never previously won an opening game.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
25 mins: Anis Ben Slimane gets in behind for Tunisia and scores... but it’s offside!
Replays show he was clearly offside. Just put your flag up earlier when it’s that clear please linesman...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
23 mins: The ball breaks to Danish defender Joachim Andersen, but his shot is comfortably straight at the Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
22 mins: Terrific ball in by Christian Eriksen... but no Danish player can get on the end of it!
The playmaker will now have a go from a corner...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
20 mins: Surging run down the left by Denmark’s Joakim Mæhle, who digs out a cross that is headed behind by Tunisia with Dolberg lurking.
Tunisia clear originally but Denmark now have a free-kick out wide...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
16 mins: No chances of note but Tunisia still on top here - and still playing at a very high intensity!
Will it last though? Can it last?
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
11 mins: Oh so close for Tunisia!
Mohamed Dräger shoots from range and it takes a wicked deflection off Andreas Christensen... but it sails just wide!
Kasper Schmeichel was rooted to the floor - he was well beaten!
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
10 mins: Tunisia on top early on here!
The Africans are playing at a quicker intensity than the Danes, who are just taking their time to feel their way into this game but are nonetheless struggling to maintain possession.
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
5 mins: Much like Saudi Arabia earlier, Tunisia are trying their best to press high here with their defensive line pretty high too.
They’re setting a rapid pace early on here are the Arab side, who have the majority of the support inside the stadium!
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
3 mins: Ex-Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen takes a blow to the face as he blocks a goal-bound shot - brief pause but he’s all OK to continue..
Denmark controlling possession early on...
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia
2 mins: Bright start for Denmark who move quickly forward and win an early corner...
Christian Eriksen over it, but it’s headed clear by the Tunisian defence, and the Manchester United midfielder is then cleaned out by Tunisia’s Aïssa Laïdouni - who celebrates the tackle like he’s scored!
Could be another fesity one!
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