Argentina vs Saudi Arabia LIVE: World Cup 2022 result and reaction as Saudi Arabia claim stunning shock win
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Lionel Messi scored early on but a stunning comeback ensured an all-time great World Cup shock
Saudi Arabia beat Argentina to record one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history with a 2-1 win over Lionel Messi’s side thanks to a scintillating second-half comeback.
On his fifth and final quest for the only major trophy to elude him, the 35-year-old Messi scored a 10th-minute penalty in a dominant first-half display where he and Lautaro Martinez also had three goals disallowed for offside.
But Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament after Ghana, threw caution to the wind at the start of the second half, charging at Argentina’s defence in front of a frenzied 88,012 crowd.
Saleh Al-Shehri squeezed in a low shot in the 48th minute while Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a scorching strike from the edge of the penalty area in the 53rd minute to leave Argentina and Messi looking utterly shell-shocked in the Group C opener. Despite plenty of possession after that, Argentina were unable to best Saudi Arabia, who were competing in their sixth World Cup but had never previously won an opening game.
Relive all the action with our live blog below:
Mexico 0-0 Poland
56 mins: PENALTY TO POLAND!
The referee goes to the monitor, and he gives a penalty to Poland after their first decent move of the match!
Mexico 0-0 Poland
54 mins: All of a sudden, Poland decide to press! And what would you know? They get a great chance out of it!
A pass is slung into the feet of Lewandowski just inside the Mexico box, and he turns well before running at goal...
He’s shoulder to shoulder with Moreno, and the Poland captain loses out.
Better, though, from Poland! That looked dangerous for Mexico for a moment.
In fact... the referee is going to check for a penalty! Moreno looked to have pulled on Lewandowski’s shirt...
Mexico 0-0 Poland
53 mins: Lozano scoops a lovely pass over the Poland defence and onto Sanchez inside the box... and Sanchez wins a corner.
Szczesny comes out and punches it clear, but Mexico will attack again, this time with Lozano out on the left...
He cuts inside and curls a shot towards goal, but he slips as he hits it! Szczesny catches the effort comfortably.
Mexico 0-0 Poland
50 mins: Szymanski is brought down inside the Mexico half, and Poland have a free kick some way out, just to the left of centre.
It’s wasted, straight out for a goal kick.
Mexico 0-0 Poland
48 mins: The second half begins as the first ended, with Mexico enjoying a decent spell of possession.
Mexico 0-0 Poland
Zalewski is replaced by Krystian Bielik for Poland.
Mexico 0-0 Poland
The second half is just a couple of moments away. Here’s a reminder of what happened in today’s other Group C game:
Saudi Arabia defy reality to stun Argentina with enormous World Cup shock
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Goals from Saleh Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari completed an incredible comeback at the Lusail Stadium, ending the Albiceleste’s 36-game unbeaten streak
Mexico 0-0 Poland
Half-time: Goalless at the break. Mexico have been on top, though.
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