By Oyez Olatunde R.
On Sunday the opening day of the 2022 football mundial, Qatar made history as the first host of the mundial to ever lost the opening match.
Today in the group C first stage match between Argentina and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, favorite team of the tournament, Argentina got stunned by a 2-1 convincing defeat in the hands of the very motivated Arabians.
Multiple Ballon D’Or winner, Lionel Messi sent the Argentine squad to a lead at the 10 mins mark with a header off a corner kick.
Although the Argentines continued to dominate the game, the Arabians had an almost rock solid defence that complimented their goal keeper in the many five saving moves.
On the 48 minutes mark, the Arabians got ball possession in midfield, sent a long ball which Alshehri followed excellently guiding the ball onto the ground, through the defender’s legs, and past Martinez right into the corner of the goal posts . What a moment! Goal!
The first half ended draw.
The second half continued with several incursions into the Arabian half but the Argentines could not find a way to break down the formidable defence that thwarted the brilliant efforts.
At the 53rd minute of play, Abdulhamid finds Alabid down the right, who tries a curler from the right – it looks goalbound but it was headed clear.
The reprieve was short lived as Aldawsari gets ball possession, he inches inward, off the left, and sends a demonic curler that Martinez can only palm into the top corner of his goal posts for the Arabian’s second goal.
The Argentines had defeat written all over them. Although they put in many concerted effort to level up, it was not to be even through an extra added 13 minutes after regulations 90 minutes of play.
