Messi-led Argentina lose 1-2 against 51st-ranked Saudi Arabia in 2022 FIFA WC

Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: Messi's side frustrated by underdog opener comeback

 Lionel Messi-led Argentina lost 1-2 against 51st-ranked Saudi Arabia in their 2022 FIFA World Cup opener on Tuesday. Messi opened the scoring for Argentina in the 10th minute through a penalty. Forward Saleh Al-Shehri equalised for Saudi Arabia in the 48th minute, with mid-fielder Salem Al Dawsari scoring the winner five minutes later.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

2' CLOSE! Messi's shot denied

9' Penalty Goal! Argentina 1-0 Saudi Arabia (Messi)

20' CHANCE! Gomez's long shot over the bar

22' OFFSIDE! Messi's goal disallowed

27' OFFSIDE AGAIN! Lautaro's goal disallowed

35' Disallowed! Lautaro scores but the goal is offside again

43' MISS! De Paul shoots over the bar

47' GOAL! Argentina 1-1 Saudi Arabia (Saleh Al-Shehri)

52' GOAL! Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia (Salem Al Dawsari)

63' MISS! Tagliafico's shot denied

66' Yellow Card! Abdulelah Al-Malki booked

72' CHANCE! Di Maria's shot saved

80' CLOSE! Messi's free-kick over the bar

84' MISS! Messi's header saved

91' CLOSE! Al-Amri makes goal-line clearance

Line-ups

Argentina XI: Messi, Gomez, Di Maria, Otamendi, E. Martinez, Tagliafico, Paredes, De Paul, Lautaro, Nahuel Molina, Romero

Subs: F. Armani, Gerónimo Rulli, Pezzella, Acuna, Dybala, Correa, G. Rodriguez, Exequiel Palacios, Gonzalo Montiel, Foyth, Mac Allister, Martinez, Thiago Almada, Julián Álvarez, Enzo Fernández

Saudi Arabia XI: Salman Al Faraj, Yasir Al Shahrani, Salem Al Dawsari, Saleh Al-Shehri, Mohammed Al Owais, Mohammed Kanoo, Ali Albulayhi, Abdulelah Al-Malki, Firas Al-Buraikan, Hassan Tambakti, Saud Abdulhamid

Subs: Nawaf Al-Abed, Hattan Babhir, Abdullah Otayf, Abdullah Madu, Mohammed Al Burayk, Sultan Al-Ghannam, Abdulrahman Al-Oboud, Sami Al-Najei, Nasser Al-Dawsari, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Mohammed Al-Yami, Ali Al-Hassan, Nawaf Al-Aqidi, Haitham Asiri