Saudi Arabia kicked off Group C motion on the 2022 FIFA World Cup with a 2-1 comeback win in opposition to two-time champions Argentina. The end result delivered to an finish Argentina’s 36 match unbeaten streak since shedding the 2019 Copa America semifinal to Brazil.
FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES FROM DAY 3 AT FIFA WORLD CUP 2022
Argentina took a primary half lead by way of Lionel Messi, who earlier grew to become the primary participant to characteristic in 5 world cups for the Albicelestes, within the tenth minute after a VAR awarded penalty. The 1978 and 1986 champions hit the ball within the objective three extra instances within the first half however had been dominated offside, twice for a Lautaro Martinez objective and for an additional Messi left footed strike as Argentina went into the halftime with their one objective lead intact.
Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked group within the event after Ghana, charged at Argentina’s defence early within the second half in entrance of a frenzied 88,012 crowd as Saleh Al-Shehri, who was simply too fast for Romero, squeezed in a low shot to equalise within the forty eighth minute off what was Saudi Arabia’s first shot on track.
5 minutes later, Salem Al-Dawsari plucked the ball out of the sky close to the left nook of the field, twisting and turning, earlier than bending a shot into the far prime nook roller from the sting of the field to finish the Asian facet’s comeback.
Saudi Arabia beat Argentina. @adidasfootball | #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 22, 2022
Regardless of loads of possession within the later levels of the sport, Argentina had been unable to penetrate Saudi Arabia, who had been competing of their sixth World Cup however had by no means beforehand gained a gap sport.
The loss for the Lionel Messi led facet meant that they go into their subsequent two video games in opposition to Mexico and Poland with a excessive danger of being knocked out within the group levels of the competitors.
Probably the most iconic white shirt in soccer
Saudi Arabia supervisor Herve Renard’s white shirt, worn unbuttoned on the prime, is a kind of superstition for the 2 time AFCON successful coach. Renard had gained the African Cup of Nations again in 2012 with Zambia after which repeated the feat again in 2015 with Ivory Coast.
Forward of the World Cup, Renard had informed Esquire, “We (Zambia) had been taking part in within the second sport of the (2010) Africa Cup of Nations in opposition to Cameroon,” Renard recalled to Esquire. “I wore a light-weight blue shirt, however we misplaced 3-2 so within the following sport, I wore a white shirt. We gained and completed first within the group, in entrance of Cameroon.”
“In fact I’ve misplaced some video games since then,” the Frenchman added. “Possibly I even misplaced quite a bit. However I additionally gained many. I like this model however I’d say the climate needs to be good. Once I coached in England, the white shirt in December was not attainable. Or possibly that is the explanation I wasn’t profitable in England!”
Will there be Rolls Royce for Saudi Arabia objective scorers?
Saudi Arabia are recognized to open their hearts and purse strings to their World Cup goal-scorers. Of their World Cup debut in 1994, they had been 500-1 outsiders however they raised the bar on the massive stage. In opposition to Belgium, they scored a objective that for lengthy was thought-about the nation’s best-ever objective. Striker Saeed Al-Owairan got here with a magical 70-yard run to search out the web. Al-Owairan was to get a Rolls-Royce as soon as he returned house. For the 2 objective scorers of their 2022 event opener, Al Dawsar and Al Shehri, it might be time for a garrage replace.