Argentina were stunned by Saudi Arabia in their World Cup opener. Argentina dominated the first half and scored with a 10th minute penalty by Messi before having three more goals disallowed for offside. However, it was only 1-0 at half-time at Saudi Arabia fought back terrifically in the second period. Saleh Al-Shehri levelled in the 48th minute and then Salem Al-Dawsari scored the winner five minutes later to bring the South American side's 36-match unbeaten run to a shuddering halt. Mexico and Poland are also in this group and Scaloni's men could now be eliminated in the group stages.

The win was fully deserved after Saudi Arabia came from behind. Playing a risky high defensive line, the athletic Saudis rode their luck in the first half when three times Argentina had the ball in the net only to be denied by an offside call. But in a chaotic start to the second half, the Saudis swarmed all over Lionel Scaloni's team and scored twice as the Arab nation beat the South Americans for the first time in five attempts.

In a first half dominated by Argentina, it seemed only a matter of time before Saudi Arabia's risky defensive tactics would cost them. That condensed the game into a sliver of green turf around the halfway line as the Asian side happily allowed Argentina's back four to pass the ball among themselves.

It seemed Saudi Arabia were facing a long afternoon after VAR intervened to award a penalty when Saud Abdulhamid wrestled Leandro Paredes to the ground in the box at a corner. Messi waited for goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais to dive to his left before cooly rolling the ball into the opposite corner. But if the Saudis felt aggrieved at the technology, it would later help keep them in the game. Three times Argentina had the ball in the net only to be denied by razor-tight offside calls, the first given by VAR.

There was no controversy about the equaliser three minutes into the second half, though, as Al-Shehri ran onto a touch from Feras Al-Brikan, beat Cristian Romero on the outside and slotted the ball back across goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and into the far corner. The sizeable Saudi contingent in the Lusail stadium - where the World Cup final will be held - exploded in joy.

Suddenly the Argentines were rattled and five minutes later the turnaround was complete. Al-Dawsari's clever turn in the box beat two defenders before he shifted the ball past a third and rifled an unstoppable shot into the top far corner. The crowd was going wild and Hassan Al-Tambakti punched the air in delight after his desperate sliding tackle denied Messi a clear shot at goal.

Every Al-Owais save, including a point-blank block from Nicolas Tagliafico's close-range prod, was greeted with rapturous cheers. There was late drama after Al-Owais collided with Yasser Al-Shahrani and seemed to knock him out as his knee struck the defender's head, but Saudi Arabia held on.

November 22, 2022

S. Al-Shehri

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