Status: 11/22/2022 1:31 p.m
Saudi Arabia caused the first sensation at the World Cup in Qatar. The blatant outsider defeated co-favorite Argentina 2-1 (0-1) in the opening game of Group C and can now have legitimate hopes of reaching the round of 16.
Saleh Al-Shehri (48th) and Salem Al-Dawsari (53rd) scored the goals for the “Green Falcons” on Tuesday afternoon (November 22nd, 2022) in the Lusail Stadium and inflicted “La Albiceleste” the first defeat after 36 previously unbeaten games to. Superstar Lionel Messi put Argentina ahead with a penalty (10th). After the early 1-0, the attacker from the French Katari club Paris Saint-Germain and his teammates were often a tiny bit too fast. By half-time, the two-time world champion had three (!) offside hits.
The break and a second half followed, which will at least go down in the Saudi Arabian football history books.
Messi scores early from the penalty spot
Unsurprisingly, Argentina took the reins from the start. The high pressing of the opponent, who was inferior in terms of football, was rather surprising. Apparently, the Arabs wanted to nip the expected offensive vortex of the South Americans in the bud. But after only one and a half minutes this plan went wrong for the first time: after a swift play down the right side, Messi was brought into position, “la pulga”, the flea, finished with his strong left foot, but failed at the attentive goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.
Shortly thereafter, the Argentines were awarded a free kick by Slovenian referee Tomaz Klancnik. Time for an early jersey swap – at least Saudi Arabia’s defender Saud Abdulhamid seemed to think so. In any case, the 23-year-old pulled what felt like an eternity on Leandro Paredes’ jersey before executing the ball at rest.
The detailed textile test did not go unnoticed by the VAR team around Bundesliga referee Bastian Dankert. It drew Klancnik’s attention, the referee looked at the moving image and pointed to the point. Messi converted the penalty just as easily as it did safely.
Argentina has three offside goals
Despite falling behind early on, Saudi Arabia stuck to their offensive-defense stance. It was a game with fire that drove Coach Hervé Renard’s team. Because Argentina overplayed the four-man defense of the three-time Asian champions again and again. Lucky for the Arabs, both Messi (22′) and Lautaro Martínez (27′, 35′) were centimeters offside when they scored. Otherwise the outsider, who didn’t stand a chance in attack in the first 45 minutes, would have been hopelessly behind by half-time.
Saudi Arabia turns game in five minutes
Little to nothing indicated before the start of the second period that the balance of power could change. The “Albiceleste” had been too dominant up until then, and the idea of the “Green Falcons” was too harmless. What happened next was difficult to explain and certainly accounts for a large part of the fascination of football. Because a single scene caused the static of the game to change. Out of nowhere, Al-Shehri scored from a long ball with a left-footed shot to make it 1-1. A shock for the Argentinian selection, who apparently were so concerned with the goal that they were once again inattentive.
Al-Dawsari benefited from this five minutes after the equaliser. The left winger was only half-heartedly attacked in the penalty area and overcame keeper Emiliano Martinez with a wonderful flick into the top right corner.
Keeper Al-Owais captures the sensational victory
Argentina responded with furious attacks from behind, but kept getting bogged down by the multi-legged Arab defence. And when the South Americans did get a shot, keeper Al-Owais was there. For example, in the 84th minute, when Messi tried to defeat him with a header. And when the goalkeeper went wide, his frontman Abdulelah Al-Amri erased his error. The central defender saved a pretty powerful shot from Julian Alvarez with a header (!) on the line (90′ + 1′).
That might cause a little headache for the Al-Nassr FC man. In view of the sensation that the 25-year-old created with his team, Al-Amri should only affect it peripherally.
Argentina under pressure on Saturday
Saudi Arabia now has the chance to open the door to the round of 16 against Poland next Saturday (November 26, 2022, 2 p.m. CET). Argentina are already under enormous pressure to take action against Mexico (8 p.m.CET) on the same day if they want to keep their chances of winning the third world title.
Source: sportschau.de