Argentina came to the Qatari World Cup in the status of one of the favorites. In the opening game, the team from South America was expected by a seemingly passing opponent in the person of Saudi Arabia.
But the Asians gave Messi and Co. so many problems that in the end the captain of the “blue and white” had to take a desperate step, which he will be remembered for a long time.
Lionel forgot about fair play
Experts unanimously argued that the South Americans, who were considered favorites before the start of the tournament, should deal with Asian rivals without any problems.
Beginning of the meeting evolved for Argentina better than you can imagine. Messi converted a penalty awarded for the demolition of Leandro Paredes in the penalty area. Lionel in a mocking manner outplayed the goalkeeper of the Saudis Mohammed al-Uwais.
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There were three more goals in Saudi Arabia within 45 minutes, but they were all canceled due to offside. If not for offsides, then even before the break, the “white-blue” could decide the fate of the confrontation.
But everything changed after the break. In just five minutes, the Saudis turned the meeting around. In the 48th minute, Saleh al-Shehri restored equality in the score, and in the 53rd, Salem al-Dosari, with a chic blow to the far “nine”, brought the Saudis ahead.
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Argentines began to save the game. They put pressure on opponents all over the field, however, it almost never came to dangerous moments. A real chance for a draw arose for the “white-blues” in the 5th added minute. The goalkeeper of Saudi Arabia played unsuccessfully at the exit.
Trying to knock the ball out with his fists, he hit his team’s defender Yasser al-Shahrani with his knees with all his might on the head, who did not expect such a development of the event. The 13th number terribly collapsed on the lawn, but the referee did not stop the game.
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At the gate there was a commotion, in which the ball bounced to Messi. Lionel was a few meters from the episode. He could not help but see what happened, but the captain of the Argentines did not kick the ball out of bounds. On the contrary, Lionel wanted to take advantage of the situation, made a few tricks and tried to break through on goal. Only when the Arabs took the ball from him did the game stop, and doctors appeared on the field with a stretcher. The injury was so serious that Yasser had to be carried off the field.
In the remaining time, the players of Argentina tried to arrange a pile on the opponents’ gates, but they did not succeed in scoring. The meeting ended with a sensational defeat for the South Americans, and Messi’s act looked extremely ugly.
