Argentina falls to Saudi Arabia in one of World Cup’s all-time upsets
AUSTIN, Texas — Argentina beat Saudi Arabia in overtime in the World Cup final on Sunday, just a few hours after falling to the United States in the semifinals.
The teams were tied at the end of regulation in the Gold Cup final, with a sudden-death shootout needed.
It was the first penalty shootout in the history of the World Cup game.
The Argentines won 4-3, leaving Argentina as the first team to reach four successive World Cup finals. The Americans are the first to do it in six.
A total of 1,922 goals have been scored in World Cup finals, with Argentina scoring 463 of them.
The goal that was not scored, however, was a penalty given to Saudi Arabia after an infringement by the goalkeeper. The penalty kick had been called as a foul to Argentina’s goalkeeper, Sergio Romero, by the referee in the first half.
“Our team is very proud of the victory,’’ said Argentina’s captain, Lionel Messi, whose team was playing Argentina for the first time in the final.
“We don’t want to go to the death like against the U.S. in the semifinals,’’ he said, without naming specific teams.
André Gomes said Argentina “didn’t like the second half. We were tired, and we were not at our best, and they outplayed us.’’
After the match, Argentina coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said that the team will now search for the right combination of players for the second final against Uruguay.
“I will have time to prepare,’’ Martino said. “But we have to try to avoid the same mistakes.’’
The U.S. beat Japan 2
