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

World Cup: Daily update from day 2 in Qatar

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 vs Saudi Arabia latest updates

• FULL-TIME! Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
• Argentina beaten by Saudi Arabia in huge World Cup shock
• Follow the day’s next game with our blog - Denmark vs Tunisia
• 53’ - GOAL! Al-Dawsari curls in stunning strike to give underdogs the lead (ARG 1-2 KSA)
• 48’ - GOAL! Al-Shehri grabs shock equaliser with neat finish (ARG 1-1 KSA)
• 35’ - OFFSIDE! Argentina have a third disallowed goal as Martinez caught offside (ARG 1-0 KSA)
• 28’ - OFFSIDE! Martinex finishes smartly but VAR rules goal out after long delay (ARG 1-0 KSA)
• 22’ - OFFSIDE! Messi scores but has goal ruled out for offside (ARG 1-0 KSA)
• 10’ - GOAL! Messi scores controversial penalty (ARG 1-0 KSA)

[22 November 2022 18:33 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

“Few expected that the first four-game day of this World Cup would end with Saudi Arabia sitting prettiest in Group C but that is the upshot after one of the most famous upsets in the tournament’s history and, to follow up, this far more forgettable stalemate. A goalless draw between Mexico and Poland had little of the drama witnessed in Lusail earlier on Tuesday, but it would not quite be a World Cup without at least one moment of Guillermo Ochoa heroics.

“The Mexico goalkeeper stole the show, as he usually does, spectacularly denying Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot at the start of the second half. Ochoa added to the catalogue of memorable saves that he has accumulated since debuting at this tournament eight years ago, while adding Poland to Brazil and Germany on the list of opponents that he has frustrated on this grandest of stages.”

Here’s Mark Critchley in Qatar with our Mexico vs Poland match report:

[22 November 2022 18:27 · Alex Pattle]

France vs Australia

So, France are out to avoid the recent curse of defending World Cup champions exiting in the group stage.

Here’s Richard Jolly, in Qatar, on that interesting trend:

[22 November 2022 18:19 · Alex Pattle]

France vs Australia

Again, here’s how Group D’s other fixture played out at the Qatar World Cup today:

[22 November 2022 18:08 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

One more game to come at the Qatar World Cup today: France vs Australia in Group D, where Denmark drew 0-0 with Tunisia earlier.

You can read our Denmark vs Tunisia report here and follow live updates from France vs Australia at the link below:

[22 November 2022 18:01 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

Here are our player ratings from this game!

[22 November 2022 18:00 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

Group C

1. Saudi Arabia; 3 points, goal difference +1

2. Mexico; 1 point, GD 0

3. Poland; 1 point, GD 0

4. Argentina; 0 points, GD -1

(AP)

[22 November 2022 17:57 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

This result means Saudi Arabia are atop Group C after the first round of fixtures!

Their shock 2-1 win over Argentina earlier today has them on 3 points and Lionel Messi’s team on zero, while Mexico and Poland are on one point apiece.

[22 November 2022 17:55 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

Full-time: It ends goalless in Group C!

[22 November 2022 17:54 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

90+6 mins: A really deft move out from the back for Poland ends with a wild shot, when there were better options on.

[22 November 2022 17:53 · Alex Pattle]

Mexico 0-0 Poland

90+5 mins: A clever pass is stabbed through Mexico’s backline and to Kaminski.

He makes a decent connection with his left-footed shot inside the Mexico box, but Ochoa catches the rising effort.