In the first round of Group C of the 2022 Qatar World Cup on Tuesday night (Beijing time), Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina with the score of 1-2, causing the first significant upset since the opening match. In the first match of eight World Cups, Argentina’s 36-match unbeaten streak in all matches came to an end. Messi stepped up to the penalty spot in the tenth minute. Later, Messi and Lautaro-Martinez both scored goals, but both were ruled offside. Shahri and Salem Dausari scored goals for Saudi Arabia in the 48th and 53rd minutes to turn the tables.
Focus of the match:
What a big upset! Argentina was defeated by Saudi Arabia with the score of 1-2. The biggest shock of the match was that Argentina was defeated by Saudi Arabia on the opening match. Argentina lost for the first time in a World Cup opening match in eight years, and their overall record in opening matches is 12 wins, 1 draw, and 5 losses.
Unbeaten streak of 36 matches of Argentina came to an end:
Argentina’s previous record of unbeaten streak of 36 matches across all competitions came to an end with the loss to Saudi Arabia, and there just one match to break the Italy’s record of 37 unbeaten matches from October 2018 to September 2021.
First Asian team victor:
Two days before the start of the Qtar World Cup, two Asian teams— Qatar and Iran, suffered heavy defeats. For the first time in the tournament for an Asian team, Saudi Arabia defeated Argentina.
In the World Cup Finals, Messi scored 7th goal:
Messi participated in his 20th World Cup final match, becoming the second-highest team in history (Maradona had 21). In the 10th minute, Messi scored from the penalty spot. Messi scored his seventh goal in a World Cup finals, with total goals to 92 for Argentine until now.
Two goals in six minutes and a moment of magic for the Saudi team:
One of the match’s most memorable moments occurred when Shahri and Salem Dausari each scored two goals in the 48th and 53rd minutes.
The most amazing moment:
After Lautaro Martinez was unsuccessful in getting a shot off, Messi had a good chance in the first two minutes when Oves stopped Di Maria’s cross from the right.
Messi’s solo push into the bottom right corner in the 22nd minute was stopped when the assistant referee signalled for Gomez to pass, and Messi was slightly offside at the start of the center circle.
Lisandro Martinez’s shot was deflected by Tagliafico in the 63rd minute, and Oves made an incredible save.
Lautaro Martinez misdirected Messi’s cross from the left corner in the 69th minute.
Oves blocked a shot from Di Maria in the penalty area on the right wing in the 72nd minute.
In the 76th minute, Arcunha crossed from a corner on the left, and Enzo Fernandez headed it high.
Argentina was awarded a good free kick in the 80th minute when Messi’s shot went over the goal line.
Oves stopped Messi’s header score in the 84th minute.
Amri on the line headed over Alvarez’s attempt in the 91st minute.
Oves stopped Alvarez’s header score in the 101st minute.