Football Sports

Saudi Arabia crash Lionel Messi’s farewell World Cup party

It was a Nightmare start for Lionel Messi’s Argentina as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia in the Qatar World Cup Group C game.

Despite Messi scoring an early penalty to give Argentina the lead the Saudi side staged a second half comeback with goals from Al Shehri and Al Dawsari to put them top of the group.

This Saudi win ends Argentina’s 36 game unbeaten streak. Since the appointment of Herve Renard in 2019, This Saudi side has been so defensively sound and this showed by shutting down the quality of Messi, Angel Di Maria and Lautaro Martinez.

The first half started perfectly for Messi’s side as he scored a penalty with just 10 minutes gone. The remainder of the first half was a tactical battle with Argentina threatening the high Saudi line. This was exploited by Martinez who scored but had his celebrations cut short by VAR.

The travelling Saudi fans were sent to dreamland after they watched their side get a quick double showing no signs of mercy. In the 48th minute Saleh Al Shehri produced a lovely finish from a tight angle into the bottom corner. Just five minutes later the underdogs had turned the game on its head with Al-Halil firing a perfect shot into the top corner. He celebrated in style back flipping in front of the ecstatic Saudi fans.

Despite there being lots of time for an Argentine comeback. Messi’s men were lacklustre and wasteful in the final third. Goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais made some vital saves in the dying minutes secure all three points to the Saudi’s as they look to advance beyond the group stages for the first time since 1994.

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