Argentina, who took the lead in the 10th minute with a penalty scored by Lionel Messi and dominated throughout the first half, were confident Argentina would begin their title journey with a win against Saudi Arabia . The moments when Latin Americans filled the Lusail Maidan in Qatar with an unstoppable attack that made star polyma come true. Spectators in the stands cheering. However, the Green Jackets waited for the next half, taking Coach Hayward’s chants in the ears and then in the feet.
Meanwhile, the Saudis’ right eye flickered and Argentina’s progress was stalled three more times. Messi once and Lautaro Martinez twice. It all ended up in the offside trap. The referee’s offside whistle was due to the fact that Martinez’s legs and body were fine, but his shoulder was a bit crossed. I’ve also seen flashes of rough play. All in all, it looked like Argentina was cutting the ball to the attack.
The Saudi team that arrived after the break saw big changes. The Saudi strategy was to rush and seize the counterattack like a well-oiled machine and rush into the opponent’s half. Salih Alshahri was the scorer in the 48th minute. With that, Salim Aldousari’s winning goal, which has the potential to be one of the best goals of the tournament, was the birth of a truly shocked Messi squad.
After a normal movement started on the right wing, the ball arrived in the penalty area and the Argentine defense cleared it. But the ball went to the Saudi player’s foot again. Ookan’s shot flew to the left corner of the post and the Argentine defense held on with his header. The ball landed again in the Argentina box due to danger. Then it was the turn of Aldausari, 31, who escaped. When Dausari ran out with the ball to pass the circled blue jerseys, there were more people in front. A touch or two with the magic touch that transcends all. The Argentine goalkeeper reached out to touch the ball which he shot towards the top corner, but the story had already been written.
This was the second World Cup goal for the player who has been in the Saudi squad for a decade. Undoubtedly the best goal Qatar’s World Cup has seen so far. With the winning goal, Aldousari is now every Saudi’s hero.
The team that has achieved great successes still has many hurdles to overcome. While the advantage of a win will strengthen Saudi Arabia, the road ahead for Argentina will be tougher. The next two must be won. That and Lewandowski’s Poland coached by Biesta and then the mighty American Mexico. Argentina’s next game is on Saturday.
