◤FIFA World Cup in Qatar◢ Heroic Saudi Arabia stunned and ended Argentina's 36-match unbeaten streak with a 1-2 comeback win through Salem Al-Dawsari's wonder strike..
2022-11-23 15:27Saudi Arabia came from behind, shocked and ended Argentina's 36-game unbeaten streak with a 1-2 victory in the first round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar Group C group stage match at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday.
Shortly after the opening of the first half, Messi's volley ushered in a save by Al-Owais. Later, Leandro Paredes was brought to ground and won a penalty for the Albiceleste, which Messi converted from the spot-kick for Argentina. Then, Messi and Lautaro's goals were ruled out for offside.
Shortly after the start of the second half, Al-Shehri scored and hits back for Saudi Arabia. Afterwards, Al-Dawsari shook off a few people and launched a wonder strike into the net all of a sudden, making the atmosphere rapturous immediately. After that, Tagliafico, Di María, and Messi's attacks were all saved by Al-Owais. At the critical moment before the end of the game, Álvarez's shot was bravely blocked off the goal line by Abdulelah Al-Amri. In the end, Saudi Arabia defended until the end of the game and defeated the tournament's favourite Argentina 1-2.
First Half
In the 2nd minute, Ángel Di María passed horizontally from the right wing, and the ball was initially blocked off not far away by Abdulellah Al-Malki, upon pickng up the loose ball, Leo Messi shot with his left-foot from the center of the box, but his effort was parried away by Mohammed Al-Owais by the bottom left corner.
5 minutes later, Argentina got a corner opportunity. Messi took the kick and crossed it into the box, the ball was acrobatically punched away by the outrushing Al-Owais, however the VAR referee immediately intervened and summoned to review the playback personally. After going to the sidelines to watch the VAR video playback, it was determined that Paredes was fouled by Saud Abdulhamid, who was closely marking him when the corner was taken, and Argentina was awarded a penalty opportunity on the spot.
Leo Messi took the penalty and converted successfully, and Argentina broke the deadlock early and took a 1-0 lead to get a fantastic start! The Barcelona legend scored his 7th World Cup goal in the career!
In the 22nd minute, Alejandro "Papu" Gómez made a long pass from his own back half, Messi quickly followed up, got he ball, single-handedly dribbled into the center of the box before slotting it past the outrushing Al-Owais with his left foot into the bottom left corner of the net, but the linesman immediately raised his flag to signal that Messi was in an offside position first, hence the goal was disallowed!
5 minutes later, Argentina made a quick counterattack. "Papu" Gómez made a through pass from the front, Lautaro Martínez quickly followed up, got the ball, dribbled ball into the center of the box and then slotting it past the outrushing Al-Owais with his right foot into the bottom left corner of the net, but the VAR assistant referee instantly intervened again. Under the VAR video playback, Lautaro was adjudged to have been offside with his left arm first, hence the goal was ruled out again!
At the end of the first half, Argentina temporarily led Saudi Arabia 1-0 and entered half time.
Second Half
The two teams switched sides as the game continued. In the 48th minute, Al-Malki made a though low long pass from the center circle of the midfield, Saleh Al-Shehri successfully beaten the offside trap, quickly followed up, got the ball, dribbled into the left side of the box and then strucked the ball into the bottom right corner of the net with his left foot, Saudi Arabia equalized Argentina 1-1!
5 minutes later, Abdulhamid cuts back a pass from the edge of the byline on the right wing, the ball was initially blocked off not far away by Nicolás Otamendi and after Nawaf Al-Abed picked up the loose ball, he made a supplementary shot with his left foot on the right of the box, the ball was blocked off not far away again by Cristian Romero, after Salem Al-Dawsari picked up the loose ball again, cut inside, took a few steps, shook off many Argentine defenders, he shot with his right foot on the left side of the box, and the ball flew straight into the upper right corner of net creating a wonder strike which left Emiliano Martínez beyond reach. Saudi Arabia quickly overtook Argentina 1-2! The goal was the 18th which Al-Dawsari has scored in his national team career!
In the 63rd minute, Otamendi passed horizontally from the right side of the box, the ball initially blocked by Lisandro Martínez accidentally before it fell to the path of Nicolás Tagliafico who strucked the ball with his left foot from a very close distance, however his attempt was bravely parried out for a corner by Al-Owais off the bottom left corner.
9 minutes later, Messi passed horizontally from the front, Ángel Di María quickly followed up, got the ball, took a few steps and shot with his right foot against the outrushing Al-Owais but his shot was held onto by the latter.
In the 84th minute, Di María crossed into the box from the right wing, Messi quickly followed up, rose high on the left side of the box with a header, however his effort was held onto by Al-Owais.
In the 2nd minute of stoppage time, Rodrigo De Paul made an overhead pass from the left wing, and the ball was intially punnched not far away by the acrobatic Al-Owais, after Julián Álvarez picked up the loose ball, he half-volleyed from the right side of the box with his right foot, however it was blocked off the goal line by Abdulelah Al-Amri's header. Argentina missed a golden opportunity to force the opponent into a late draw!
As the final whistle is blown, Argentina suffered a shock 1-2 upset loss to Saudi Arabia.
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