LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — Lionel Messi stood along with his arms on his hips close to the middle circle, wanting stone-faced as Saudi Arabia’s jubilant gamers ran in all instructions round him after pulling off one of many largest World Cup upsets ever towards Argentina.The South American champions and one of many match favorites slumped to a 2-1 loss Tuesday towards the second lowest-ranked group on the World Cup in a deflating begin to Messi’s quest to win the one main title that has eluded him.Requested how he felt after a painful begin to his report fifth World Cup for Argentina, Messi stated: “The reality? Lifeless. It’s a really exhausting blow as a result of we didn’t anticipate to start out on this approach.”Saudi Arabia’s comeback joins the record of different main World Cup upsets: Cameroon’s 1-0 win over an Argentina group led by Diego Maradona within the opening recreation of the 1990 World Cup; Senegal’s 1-0 victory over defending champion France within the 2002 match opener; or the US beating England by the identical rating in 1950.“We all know the World Cup is this manner,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni stated. “Typically you possibly can steamroll the opponents and, in a few performs, you’re dropping.”That summed up the sample of a match that began with Messi giving Argentina the lead, calmly changing a penalty within the tenth minute for his 92nd worldwide aim. It had all of the makings of a routine win for the defending Copa America champions, who had been on a 36-match unbeaten run — one wanting the report in worldwide soccer.Didn’t end up that approach.Objectives by Saleh Alshehri and Salem Aldawsari in a five-minute span early within the second half gave the Saudis a landmark consequence within the first World Cup staged within the Center East. Their earlier largest win was 1-0 over Belgium on the 1994 World Cup, secured by a storied particular person aim by Saeed Al-Owairan.“All the celebs aligned for us,” Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard stated. “We made historical past for Saudi soccer.”The 35-year-old Messi, enjoying in his fifth — and certain his last — World Cup for Argentina, scratched the aspect of his head and shook arms with a Saudi teaching workers member after the ultimate whistle.He walked towards the tunnel with a gaggle of different Argentina gamers and seemed despondent, an all-too-familiar scene for the seven-time world participant of the 12 months who has but to win soccer’s final prize.“We face two finals now,” stated Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, wanting forward of remaining group matches towards Mexico and Poland. “We screwed it up within the second half.”The unlikely victory by a group made up fully of Saudi-based gamers was sealed by a somersault by Aldawsari, who introduced down a excessive ball simply contained in the penalty space, spun his well past Nahuel Molina with the assistance of a ricochet, dribbled previous Leandro Paredes and drove a strong shot to the far nook within the 53rd.A shocked Messi watched as Saudi Arabia’s green-clad followers, who had come over the Qatari border of their hundreds, celebrated in disbelief within the stands. Saudi Arabia’s substitutes swarmed onto the sphere to congratulate Aldawsari, who sank to his knees after his post-goal acrobatics.“It’s one for the historical past books,” Renard stated.Such was Argentina’s preliminary dominance that Saudi Arabia didn’t have a shot on aim within the first half, throughout which the Alibiceleste had three objectives dominated out for offside as they repeatedly received behind the Saudis’ excessive line of defense.“A few of these selections had been by inches,” Scaloni stated, “however that’s know-how for you.”The Forty eighth-minute equalizer got here from Saudi Arabia’s first try heading in the right direction, with Alshehri discovering the far nook with an angled end that went by means of the legs of defender Cristian Romero and past the dive of goalkeeper Emi Martinez.Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais made two diving saves throughout 14 minutes of stoppage time to protect a win that shakes up the group.“This group all the time stood out for its evenness, its power, and it’s time to be extra united than ever,” Messi stated. “We’ve to return to our coaching base and attempt to win the following recreation.”TURNAROUNDArgentina hadn’t beforehand misplaced a World Cup recreation when main at halftime since 1930, when the group conceded three objectives within the second half to lose to Uruguay 4-2.LAST-16 HOPESSaudi Arabia strengthened its probabilities of reaching the knockout stage of the World Cup for the primary time since 1994. “There’ll simply be 20 minutes of celebration for us,” Renard stated. “We nonetheless have two video games — or extra.”UP NEXTArgentina returns to the Lusail Stadium to play Mexico on Saturday. Saudi Arabia takes on Poland on the identical day.______Steve Douglas is at https://twitter.com/sdouglas80
World Cup stunner: Saudi Arabia beats Messi’s Argentina 2-1
