A bold and brilliant Saudi Arabia pulled off one of the World Cup’s biggest shocks as they came from behind to stun two-time winners Argentina in a fantastic Group C opener in Lusail.
Ranked 51st in the world, Saudi Arabia could have been done and dusted in the first half as Lionel Messi opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Argentina had three goals ruled out for offside.
But Saudi Arabia flipped the game on its head in a stunning 10-minute period after half-time, Saleh Al-Shehri levelling with a low effort and Salem Al Dawsari firing them ahead to spark pandemonium in the stands.
Having shown their ruthlessness at one end, the Green Falcons demonstrated a ruggedness at the other, holding a stellar Argentina front line at bay to secure only their fourth World Cup win in history and throw the group wide open.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina came into the tournament among the favourites, on the back of a 36-game unbeaten run that included winning the 2021 Copa America.
They now have it all to do to keep alive their hopes of a first global triumph since 1986 and give Messi a fitting ending to what is very likely his World Cup swansong.
They face Mexico on Saturday, while Saudi Arabia take on Poland.
More to follow.
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Argentina
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Squad number8Player nameAcuña -
Squad number9Player nameÁlvarez -
Squad number24Player nameFernández
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Squad number25Player nameMartínez
Line-ups
Argentina
Formation 4-4-2
- 23Martínez
- 26Molina
- 13RomeroSubstituted forMartínezat 59′minutes
- 19Otamendi
- 3TagliaficoSubstituted forAcuñaat 71′minutes
- 11Di María
- 7De Paul
- 5ParedesSubstituted forFernándezat 59′minutes
- 17Gómez VillaverdeSubstituted forÁlvarezat 59′minutes
- 10Messi
- 22Martínez
Substitutes
- 1Armani
- 2Foyth
- 4Montiel
- 6Pezzella
- 8Acuña
- 9Álvarez
- 12Rulli
- 14Palacios
- 15Correa
- 16Almada
- 18Rodríguez
- 20Mac Allister
- 21Dybala
- 24Fernández
- 25Martínez
Saudi Arabia
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 21Al OwaisBooked at 90mins
- 12AbdulhamidBooked at 82mins
- 17Al Tambakti
- 5Al BulayhiBooked at 75mins
- 13Al Mohammadi Al ShahraniSubstituted forAl Buraykat 90+9′minutes
- 8Al Wahbi Al MalkiBooked at 67mins
- 9Al BrikanSubstituted forAsiriat 89′minutes
- 7Al FarajSubstituted forAl Abidat 45+4′minutesBooked at 88minsSubstituted forAl Amriat 88′minutes
- 23Kanno
- 10Al DawsariBooked at 79mins
- 11Al ShehriSubstituted forAl Ghannamat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Al Rubaie Al Yami
- 2Al Ghannam
- 3Madu
- 4Al Amri
- 6Al Burayk
- 14Otayf
- 15Al Hassan
- 16Al Naji
- 18Al Abid
- 19Bahbri
- 20Al Obud
- 22Al Suweiti Al Aqidi
- 24Al Shardan Al Dawsari
- 25Asiri
- Referee:
- Slavko Vincic
- Attendance:
- 88,012
Live Text
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Match ends, Argentina 1, Saudi Arabia 2.
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Second Half ends, Argentina 1, Saudi Arabia 2.
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Attempt saved. Julián Álvarez (Argentina) header from the left side of the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross.
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Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Salem Al Dawsari.
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Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Saud Abdulhamid.
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Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Mohammed Al Burayk replaces Yasir Al Shahrani because of an injury.
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Offside, Saudi Arabia. Salem Al Dawsari tries a through ball, but Mohammed Kanno is caught offside.
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Corner, Saudi Arabia. Conceded by Marcos Acuña.
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Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card.
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Offside, Argentina. Rodrigo De Paul tries a through ball, but Nicolás Otamendi is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcos Acuña with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Hassan Tambakti.
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Ángel Di María (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Haitham Asiri (Saudi Arabia).
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Ángel Di María (Argentina) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Yasir Al Shahrani (Saudi Arabia).
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Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Haitham Asiri replaces Feras Al Brikan.
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Substitution, Saudi Arabia. Abdulelah Al Amri replaces Nawaf Al Abid.
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Nawaf Al Abid (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card.
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Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Argentina) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ángel Di María with a cross.
