by That FIFA World Cup 2022 Continued Tuesday with Argentina be stunned Saudi Arabia, 2-1, a 36-match unbeaten run, the second-longest streak of its kind in international men’s football history. Argentina would have equaled Italy’s 37-game record with a win or a draw.
Saudi Arabia stuns Argentina | Full match highlights
This is Argentina’s first defeat in a World Cup opener since 1990, a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon. For perspective: Argentina has appeared in every World Cup in this period. Ironically, Argentina reached the final in 1990 but lost to Germany.
Argentina, who started their opening game with the third-least chance of winning the entire World Cup, now face an uphill battle to climb out of Group C, with massive games against Mexico and Poland in the coming days.
Saudi Arabia, meanwhile, became the first Asian Football Confederation (AFC) side to defeat Argentina in a World Cup match. It is Saudi Arabia’s fourth win at a World Cup, improving its all-time record to 4-11-2 (WLD).
You can watch every match of the tournament on the FOX Sports Family of Networks – the tournament’s official English language broadcast partner in the US – and the FOX Sports app and FOXSports.com. You can also Stream full game replays for free on Tubi.
Here are the top plays from Tuesday’s group stage.
Argentina vs Saudi Arabia
2 minutes: So close to the early goal!
It took a little over 100 seconds of the 2022 World Cup game in total for Lionel Messi to score his first shot on goal, but a nice one-handed save from Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Muhammad Al-Owais kept the game goalless.
10 minutes: Allow him to introduce himself again
After Argentina were awarded a penalty after video review in the 10th minute, Messi stepped forward and effortlessly scored his first goal of the 2022 World Cup.
Lionel Messi scores a PK for Argentina in the 10th minute to take a 1-0 lead against Saudi Arabia
Argentina’s Lionel Messi scores a penalty in the 10th minute after Mohamed Kanno of Saudi Arabia commits the foul.
22 minutes: Messi almost had another one!
The Argentina star appeared to have a clean break on his second goal of the game but was just ruled offside. The verdict was upheld by VAR.
27 minutes: Another narrow miss
Argentina had to search for their second goal after Lautaro Martinez’s goal was also just ruled offside.
35 minutes: AGAIN offside
Argentina found the net four times in the first half but Messi’s 10th-minute penalty remains the only actual goal thanks to three goals decided by offside.
Argentina were caught offside a total of seven times in the first half against Saudi Arabia
Argentina were caught offside a total of seven times and conceded three goals in the first half.
According to OptaAnalyst, Argentina has been caught offside seven times in that game. The last team to have more in a World Cup match was the Netherlands against Costa Rica in 2014 with 13 offsides.
49 minutes (1st half extra time): Big loss for the Saudis
Saudi captain Salman Al Faraj went down with an apparent injury just before the end of the first half. With the Saudis already under pressure thanks to Messi’s early goal, it could be a huge blow to the underdogs’ chances of creating an upset.
48 minutes (second half): Saudi Arabia equalizes!
Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Alshehri threads a beautiful ball to level the goal with a goal and suddenly Argentina are on their heels.
Saudi Arabia’s Saleh Al-Shehri scores goal against Argentina
Watch Saleh Al-Shehri of Saudi Arabia score a goal against Argentina in the 48th minute at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
53 minutes: Saudi Arabia takes the lead!
The Saudis are suddenly knocking on the door of one of the biggest upsets at the World Cup of all time after a Salem Aldawsari laser put them 2-1 up.
Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al Dawsari scores in 53′ | a goal against Argentina FIFA World Cup 2022
Watch Salem Al Dawsari of Saudi Arabia score a goal against Argentina in the 53rd minute at the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
63 minutes: A huge parade keeps the Saudis in the lead
Another great save by Muhammad Al-Owais kept Saudi Arabia ahead as Argentina pushed for an equaliser.
83 minutes: Almost next to it for Messi
Argentina are still trying to level the score and avoid a disastrous upset, but Messi’s free-kick went over the bar and his header two minutes later was saved by Al-Owais.
92 minutes: Crazy parade
An incredible save from the Saudi backline keeps them ahead as Argentina keep pushing for a goal:
101 minutes: Another Saudi parade for the surprise!
Al-Owais made another incredible save to help Saudi Arabia pull off one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history against Argentina.
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