It is now said that Saudi Arabia produced one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, beating Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1 in an astonishing Group C match. The team scored twice in the first eight minutes of the second half, and its defense held steady to earn the monumental win which shocked many football lovers.
Many had expected the South American team, ranked third in the world, unbeaten for three years and among the favourites to win the tournament, to sweep aside its opponent, ranked 48 places below it in the world rankings.
All the pre-match talk focused on Messi, one of the greatest players ever who is playing in what is likely to be his last World Cup. The Argentina captain scored an early penalty to put his side in the lead, but two second-half goals from Saleh Al-Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari turned the game on its head.
Soon after the referee blew the final whistle to end the game, lovers of the sport took to their various favourite social media to comment on the match. Most especially on Twitter as discussions on Argentina over the match has so far garnered about 1.8m tweets.
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Taking to his verified Instagram account, Nigerian football star, Ighalo Jude, congratulated the Saudi Arabian team on their victory as he wrote, “Congratulations Saudi Arabia.” The Nigerian professional footballer plays as a striker for the Saudi club, Al Hilal.
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The Twitter user, @jaydeesport believes that Messi and his teammates would find it difficult to believe the defeat they encountered at the hands of their opponent.
He tweeted, “Whoever expected Argentina to lose their first world cup match to Saudi Arabia, the football super powerhouse was the favourite for this encounter, Messi and co can’t at this time believe what has happened in Qatar. Football, bring it on.”
Whoever expected Argentina to lose their first world cup match to Saudi Arabia, the football super power house was the favourite for this encounter, Messi and co can’t at this time believe what has happened in Qatar. Football, bring it on.#leomessi #Saudiarabiavsargentina pic.twitter.com/jdXgGt5DZr
— Jaydeesport (@jaydeesport) November 22, 2022
For the Twitter user @ZubyMusic who revealed he hardly tweets about sports, he noted that the defeat was unexpected. “I never do sports tweets but wow… Saudi Arabia beat Argentina. That was unexpected,” he opined via his verified account.
I never do sports tweets but wow…Saudi Arabia beat Argentina.
That was unexpected.
— ZUBY: (@ZubyMusic) November 22, 2022
