Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia: The Great Upset, 2022 World Cup
Argentina arrived in Qatar unbeaten in 36 matches and among the favourites to win the World Cup. In their first game they lost to Saudi Arabia.
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Match facts
| Competition | FIFA World Cup group stage |
|---|---|
| Date | 22 November 2022 |
| Venue | Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar |
| Result | Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia |
The story of the match
Lionel Messi scored an early penalty, and Argentina had three more goals ruled out for offside in the first half as Saudi Arabia played a daringly high defensive line.
Within five minutes of the restart Saleh Al-Shehri equalised and Salem Al-Dawsari curled in a brilliant second. Goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais then made a string of saves as Argentina searched for a way back.
Key moments to watch for
- Messi’s early penalty
- Three Argentina goals disallowed for offside
- Al-Shehri’s equaliser
- Al-Dawsari’s winner
- Al-Owais holds on
Why it’s one of the greatest football matches ever
It is one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, and the Saudi government declared a public holiday the next day. The twist came later: Argentina did not lose again and went on to win the tournament.
More classic football matches
- Argentina 3-3 France (4-2 pens): 2022 World Cup Final Highlights
- Liverpool 3-3 AC Milan: The Miracle of Istanbul, 2005 Champions League Final
- Man City 3-2 QPR: Agüero’s 93:20 Title Winner, 2012
See all 40 on our list of the greatest matches ever, or catch up on this season on the latest highlights page.
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