Qatar: Sauid Arabia beat World cup favorite Argentina which remained unbeaten in last 36 matches by 2-0 making FIFA World Cup's first upset.
Saudi Arabia were 1-0 down at half-time against mighty Argentina led by the mesmeric Lionel Messi, they were 2-1 up after eight crazy, frenzied second-half minutes of their opening match of the World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday.
The goal that gave them the lead, the one that proved decisive in the end, was worthy of winning any game.
When a high ball came to him, Salem Al Daswari, facing the goal from the left, seemed to have no chance. He then did a roulette, that took him further away, leaving the goal to his right.
But in an instant, Al Daswari turned, taking two Argentine defenders out of the equation.
A shot with his right foot beckoned but there were still some Argentine bodies in the way. Al Daswari took a touch that took him away from Rodrigo De Paul and then unleashed a rocket past the despairing, diving Leandro Paredes that touched the fingertips of Emilio Martinez before nestling into the far corner.
Al Daswari reeled away in celebration; joy and disbelief in equal measure.
The large contingent of Saudi fans, having crossed the border into Qatar — and making the majority of the 88,000-strong crowd at the Lusail Stadium, was roaring.
Argentina looked devastated. This was something they had in all probability never thought of; this was not the way the game was supposed to pan out for them.
After all, Argentina had come to the World Cup on the back of a 36-match unbeaten streak. Messi’s fifth World Cup was supposed to be his crowning moment. Instead, it seems the ghosts of Russia continue to haunt them.