Argentina vs Saudi Arabia 1-2 – World Cup 2022 – as it happened
Live updates from FIFA World Cup 2022 match between Argentina and Saudi Arabia at Lusail Stadium.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Argentina v Saudi Arabia World Cup 2022 match on Tuesday, November 22.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates on the Argentina v Saudi Arabia World Cup 2022 match on Tuesday, November 22.
- Argentina, Saudi Arabia in Group C of the World Cup
- The match is happening in Lusail Stadium, which will also host the final.
- Argentina have beaten Saudi Arabia twice, with two games ending in a draw.
- FIFA ranking: Argentina (3), Saudi Arabia (51)
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
Mexico and Poland match ends in goalless draw
Poland’s Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty – and his chance to finally claim a World Cup tournament goal – in a 0-0 draw with Mexico that left Saudi Arabia as the early leaders of Group C after their shock win over Argentina.
Mexico played most of the attacking football in Stadium 974 but Poland won their penalty in the 56th minute when Hector Moreno pulled down Lewandowski, only for the Polish captain to shoot too close to Guillermo Ochoa, who saved.
Read our live updates from the match here.
That’s it from a chaotic World Cup game
We had a bit of everything in that Group C match, a slightly dodgy penalty, several disallowed goals and a shock result that people will be talking about for years. Saudi Arabia has a statement win in, and will fancy their chances of progressing with their toughest game in theory done with.
Attention now turns to Denmark v Tunisia as Group D gets under way. Follow live updates here.
Thanks and goodbye.
Saudi counter-attacking template?
They only had just over 30 percent of possession but, most importantly, took the chances that came their way. The two goals from al-Shehri and al-Dawsari in a mad five minutes will be hard to replicate by Hervé Renard, but his team worked hard without the ball, which will please the Frenchman.
Argentina still alive and kicking
While losing your opening game is never ideal, there are plenty of teams who’ve done so and still gone on to have good World Cups. However, Messi and Co would have earmarked this opener for three points and now face tough games against Poland and Mexico.
They will both be mandatory viewing now, as Argentina fight to stay in the Qatar World Cup.
Still not sure how that happened?
We’ve got a full match report here which should help you make sense of that crazy 90+ minutes. Best of luck:
Saudi Arabia stun Argentina with inspired second-half performance
The definition of ‘scenes’ as Saudis celebrate
It’s safe to say, these ones will be going on for some time.
Clinical Saudi Arabia
They only had two shots on target but they made them count. Argentina looked wasteful in contrast, who spent a lot of time camped around the box of Renard’s team but failed to create too many clear-cut chances.
They need two big performances against Mexico and Poland to have any chance of progressing from Group C.
How does today’s result stack up?
There are shocks and then there was the game we had today. Here are some of the others that rank high in all-time World Cup upsets:
Full-time: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
A true World Cup shock that will go down in the annals of time!
No one before kickoff – unless maybe you were wearing Saudi Arabia’s green – would have predicted this.
The Green Falcons will have their keeper Al-Owais to thank who caught almost everything that came his way in this match. What a result!
Argentina will rue those several disallowed offside goals in the first half.
Last chance gone?
Alvarez heads a looping ball into Al-Owais’ hands.
It looks like that may be that for Argentina.
100 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Stoppage after Al-Shahrani gets a knee in the head
Goalkeeper Al-Owais looks upset after he clatters into his own player and accidentally hits him in the head with his leg.
Medical personnel are on and attending to the stricken player.
Al-Burayk is on as his replacement.
96 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Booking for al-Owais
The keeper is the latest to get a caution from the referee for an altercation with Otamendi.
92 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Eight minutes of added time
Al-Abed and al-Buraikan go off for al-Amri and Haitham Asiri. Al-Abed also gets booked as he’s taken off, presumably for wasting time.
Eight minutes of added time in this game.
89 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Big chance comes to nothing
Messi heads straight at the keeper and the best chance Argentina have had for some time comes to nothing.
They need a big moment – who will step up?
84 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Another booking for the Green Falcons
Saud Abdulhamid picks up a caution for Saudi Arabia.
82 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Who could have predicted this? Definitely not our AI predictor…
If our resident AI robot Kashef could feel human emotions, he would be hanging his head in shame right now.
Or is there a chance for him to be proven right?
Saudi trying to shore things up
Al-Shehri goes off after putting his side in front to be replaced with the more defensively minded al-Ghannam. Renard will hoping his side can see it out from here.
79 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Anxiety sets in amongst Argentina fans
Our reporter in the stadium:
“The stands with Argentina supporters no longer look as festive as they did before. There doesn’t seem to be much enthusiasm to uplift their team up, either. Just a lot of worried faces.
“An Argentinian child supporter was shown on the big screen biting her nails. The Saudis, on the other hand, are trying to get a massive wave started.”
Argentina putting the pressure on
They’re knocking on the door but no one is answering right now.
Saudi Arabia defending like a team that could be about to pull off potentially the greatest result in their footballing history.
Still plenty of time for things to change though.
73 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia have never beaten Argentina
Saudi fans at FIFA Fan Festival celebrate 2-1 lead
First yellow card of the game
Al-Malki picks up a caution for a late challenge on Otamendi. Just got his timing slightly wrong.
67 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Super save from Al-Owais
It’s close range but it hits off Martinez’ knee before almost creeping into the near post of the Saudi goal.
The resulting corner comes to nought and Argentina still searching for a response.
64 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia looking for a huge upset
Argentina were clear favourites before the match. Saudi Arabia were poor in the first half, but they appear to be a different team in the second half and could be on course for a huge upset.
An hour gone in this match and our live predictor is now saying…
Argentina win: 30.2%
Draw: 33.2%
Saudi Arabia win: 36.6%It couldn't happen, could it…#FIFAWorldCup | #ARGKSA
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) November 22, 2022
Scaloni tries to switch things up
Lisandro Martinez, Julian Alvarez and Enzo Fernandez are on for Cristian Romero, Papu Gomez and Leandro Paredes.
Will it have the desired effect?
61 mins: Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia