Saudi Arabia stunned Argentina in one of the World Cup’s greatest-ever upsets as the 2022 tournament exploded into life with Group C’s opening game played today at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar.
The South Americans ranked as one of the favourites to go all the way in Qatar were left floored as the Gulf nation handed them a shocking 2-1 defeat that sent football fans all over the world in hysteria.
Argentina took the lead through Lionel Messi’s early penalty, which was awarded following a VAR decision.
But two goals in eight minutes just after half-time flipped the contest and Argentina couldn’t come back.
On the 48-minute mark, Saleh Al Shehri produced a neat finish from a wide angle to equalise, and just four minutes later the Green Falcons were flying high in stunning fashion.
The ball fell kindly to Salem Al Dawsari, and the Al-Hilal midfielder fired in an unstoppable curling strike beyond Emiliano Martínez in goal for Argentina’s Albiceleste.
It then took an heroic defensive performance to see the Falcons home as they weathered an Argentina barrage of attacking albeit disjointed football.
The defeat consigned Argentina to their first defeat in 36 matches dating back to a loss to Brazil in 2019.