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:
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
88 mins: Di Maria whips in a cross with the outside of his foot, but it’s another brilliant interception!
Saudi are now making two substitutes, including one of the subs coming off!
Nawaf Alabid is that man - and he’s been booked for taking his time coming off the pitch!
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
86 mins: Saudi’s Feras Albrikan now down injured, with the referee making it obvious that he’s adding on the time...
Still, Argentina are desperate now! Saudi so close to a HUGE RESULT!
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
84 mins: Another chance comes and goes for Argentina!
Di Maria whips in a cross and Messi is at the back post - but his header is straight at Saudi keeper Alowais!
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
82 mins: Saud Abdulhamid in the book for a rough challenge - no complaints on that one.
Saudi’s fourth yellow card. Not ideal, yet their fouls are breaking up the play and not allowing Argentina to get any momentum at all!
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
80 mins: After a build-up of over a minutes, Messi shoots comfortably over the crossbar!
Not his day so far, nor Argentina’s.
Saudi Arabia are 10 minutes away from one of the all-time World Cup shocks here.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
79 mins: Messi wins a dubious free-kick five yards outside the box, centre of the pitch. Fortunate to win the decision there... Salem Aldawsari booked for his protests.
Messi time...
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
78 mins: Change for Saudi - goalscorer Alshehri OFF, Al-Ghannam ON.
Defender on for an attacker. Mind you, Alshehri not happy about it!
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
76 mins: Acuna whips in the corner but Enzo Fernández can only head it over and into the stands!
88,012 in the Lusail Iconic Stadium today! And boy can we hear them all, particularly the Saudi fans right now!
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
75 mins: Booking for Saudi defender Ali Albulayhi for time-wasting.
Who can blame him? 15 minutes to hold on...
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