How the referee waved play on, after this collision, is baffling.
Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais was inconsolable after he completely knocked out his teammate during a mid-air collision, in injury time of his team’s famous win over Argentina.
Al-Owais raced from his goal-line to claim a ball that was lofted towards the back-post, in the 95th minute of his side’s World Cup opener.
Having already been booked for protesting a foul in the box, when coming to claim an earlier cross, the Saudi No.1 led with his knee as he jumped for the ball. He collided with Yasser Al-Shahrani – his knee crunching into the face of his teammate, and knocking him out cold.
The referee, bizarrely, allowed play to continue until the Argentina attack broke down. Only then, with Al-Owais wildly waving for medical attention for his stricken teammate, was play halted.
Argentina 1-2 Saudi Arabia
Play halted for serious injurySaudi Arabia's Mohammed Al-Owais collides into Yasser Al-Shahrani. #Argentina #SaudiArabia #FIFAWorldCup #KSA #arg pic.twitter.com/ZMldhkXwD6
— 101 Times (@june24news) November 22, 2022
Mohammed Al-Owais in tears
Medics and physios rushed on to help the defender but Mohammed Al-Owais could not even watch. He would have been well aware how his knee had connected with Al-Shahrani’s head.
As the defender was attended to, the goalkeeper sat with his head in his hands near his goal.
There was a hold-up for several minutes before play resumed, with Saudi Arabia holding on for a stunning 2-1 victory.
As for Mohammed Al-Owais, one hopes his teammate recovers to continue on in future games. The goalie had a tremendous game and denied Lionel Messi & Co. on several occasions.
Goleirão Al-Owais catou essa, tá? pic.twitter.com/EWQbUoQIv3
— Euro Fut (@EuroFute) November 22, 2022
We have our first big shock of the 2022 World Cup.
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- Graeme Souness reminds British viewers of Irish treatment live on ITV
- ITV’s Roger Pearce dies while covering Qatar World Cup
- “We shouldn’t be here” – Roy Keane takes a stand with incredible World Cup speech
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