Saudi Arabia beats Argentina 2-1 in a shocking upset which should send shock waves to the likes of Portugal, Brazil, and France.
Argentina entered the match as a clear favourite over the Saudi team and was viewed as a potential contender to win the tournament.
The two times FIFA World Cup champions Argentina were shocked in the second half as Herve Renard’s Saudi Arabia transformed into a new form and took the game onto the Argentines.
Favourites Argentina bow 1-2 to 51-ranked Saudi Arabia in their Group C opener. It all started to turn against them in the 48 minutes when Saudi Arabia secured the all-important equalizer and went ahead by 2-1 in the 53rd minute.
Argentina chased the game from the 54th minute with the hope of redeeming the one-goal deficit but it as never to be.
Reactions from the Stadium and across the world are filled with jubilation everywhere.
Saudi Arabia’s victory has been met with raucous jubilation from fans, and misery from Argentina supporters.
Said Saudi fan Ahmed Shaqri: “This is my first world cup match and I get to see Saudi beat Argentina …. just brilliant… we supported our team better than the other side and we have been rewarded. Allah hu Akbar!”
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Said Argentina fan Bruno Martinez: “This is a nightmare. I never expected…This is supposed to be Messi’s tournament and here we are losing to a much …. low-ranking team,”
“I am truly distraught.”
On the other side, Fans of Argentina have fallen into dazing shock after the dazzling performance by Saudi Arabia.
“People here have fallen into shock after Saudi Arabia was able not only to tie this game but also now lead by two to one over Argentina,” Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampietti reported from Buenos Aires.