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
“Few expected that the first four-game day of this World Cup would end with Saudi Arabia sitting prettiest in Group C but that is the upshot after one of the most famous upsets in the tournament’s history and, to follow up, this far more forgettable stalemate. A goalless draw between Mexico and Poland had little of the drama witnessed in Lusail earlier on Tuesday, but it would not quite be a World Cup without at least one moment of Guillermo Ochoa heroics.
“The Mexico goalkeeper stole the show, as he usually does, spectacularly denying Robert Lewandowski from the penalty spot at the start of the second half. Ochoa added to the catalogue of memorable saves that he has accumulated since debuting at this tournament eight years ago, while adding Poland to Brazil and Germany on the list of opponents that he has frustrated on this grandest of stages.”
Here’s Mark Critchley in Qatar with our Mexico vs Poland match report:
Robert Lewandowski denied World Cup moment as Guillermo Ochoa steals show
Mexico 0-0 Poland: Ochoa saved Lewandowski’s second-half penalty to leave Saudi Arabia as the shock leaders of Group C
France vs Australia
So, France are out to avoid the recent curse of defending World Cup champions exiting in the group stage.
Here’s Richard Jolly, in Qatar, on that interesting trend:
How not to defend a World Cup
Brazil’s 2006 side are the only defending champions to even play in a knockout game this millennium, showing just how difficult it will be for France to win the World Cup in Qatar
France vs Australia
Again, here’s how Group D’s other fixture played out at the Qatar World Cup today:
Tireless Tunisia earn deserved point against Denmark
Denmark 0-0 Tunisia: The Danes came in much fancied to this tournament but were given all they could handle in the opening game of Group D
Mexico 0-0 Poland
One more game to come at the Qatar World Cup today: France vs Australia in Group D, where Denmark drew 0-0 with Tunisia earlier.
You can read our Denmark vs Tunisia report here and follow live updates from France vs Australia at the link below:
France vs Australia LIVE: World Cup 2022 latest score and updates
Group D clash as Kylian Mbappe’s Les Bleus face the Socceroos at the Al-Janoub Stadium
Mexico 0-0 Poland
Here are our player ratings from this game!
Mexico vs Poland player ratings: Robert Lewandowski endures penalty woe
Mexico 0-0 Poland: Lewandowski missed a second-half penalty in a largely dour goalless draw.
Mexico 0-0 Poland
Group C
1. Saudi Arabia; 3 points, goal difference +1
2. Mexico; 1 point, GD 0
3. Poland; 1 point, GD 0
4. Argentina; 0 points, GD -1
Mexico 0-0 Poland
This result means Saudi Arabia are atop Group C after the first round of fixtures!
Their shock 2-1 win over Argentina earlier today has them on 3 points and Lionel Messi’s team on zero, while Mexico and Poland are on one point apiece.
Mexico 0-0 Poland
90+6 mins: A really deft move out from the back for Poland ends with a wild shot, when there were better options on.
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