DOHA: Saudi Arabia blasted back-to-back strikes in five second-half minutes to shock favourites Argentina 2-1 in their opening Group C encounter of the FIFA World Cup 2022, here yesterday. The Copa America champions faced their first defeat after 36 games as Lionel Messi’s first-half penalty was neutralized by Salah Alshehri three minutes after halftime before Salem Aldawsri put Saudi in lead five minutes later.

The PSG star scored the first goal of his final World Cup and took Argentina in lead early in the first half after a foul from Al Bulayahi as he took down Parades in the box. The South American nation lost for the first time after leading the halftime since the 1930 final against Uruguay. The Arab team, however, scored an equalizer with a brilliant left-footed shot by Alshehri that cut across goalkeeper Martinez and landed in the bottom right corner. Aldawsri, however, struck the winner in the 53rd minute when he clawed in with a powerful curling shot into the far corner.

Saudi goalkeeper Al Owais remained phenomenal in the later part of the second half denying Argentina any chance to equalize as he saved Angel Di María’s perfectly set-up shot from the right side of the box. With the win, Saudia take the first three points in Group C to finish at top with Poland and Mexico set to face off later today.

Published in The Daily National Courier, November, 23 2022

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