Saudi Arabia took the lead for the first time in the game in the 53rd minute, when stand-in captain, Salem Al-Dawsari scored a brilliant goal
By Kehinde Okeowo
A brilliant Saudi Arabia team pulled off one of the World Cup’s biggest shocks, as they came from a goal down to beat Argentina 2-1 in a game played at the Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
Argentina opened the scoring as early as the 10th minute after Saud Abdulhamid was judged to have brought down Leandro Paredes in the penalty box.
Lionel Messi stepped up and sent Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper, Mohammed Al Owais the wrong way to make it 1-0 to the Albicelestes.
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Argentina thought they had doubled their advantage in the 28th minute after Lautaro Martinez put the ball inside the net but the goal was ruled offside by VAR.
Saudi Arabia upped the tempo in the second half and were duly rewarded in the 49th minute when Saleh Al-Shehri found the net from an assist from Firas Al-Buraikan.
The Asian team took the lead for the first time in the game in the 53rd minute, when stand-in captain, Salem Al-Dawsari found the net with the right foot.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina came into the tournament among the favourites, on the back of a 36-game unbeaten run that included winning the 2021 Copa America.
They were, however, unable to level the score against the world’s 51st-ranked team, who help their own to earn the shock but precious win.
