In what could pass a miracle, underdogs Iceland on Saturday afternoon stunned huge favourites Argentina, battling out a one-all draw in the Group D opener of the on-going 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia.

Contrary to expectations, the Icelanders soaked up every pressure from the likes of Lionel Messi, from the blast of the referee’s whistle. Even when they went down to a Sergio Aguero goal in the 19th minute, they equalised shortly after in the 24th minute when

Alfred Finnbogason volleyed the ball into the back of the net. The underdogs sealed up their rear thereafter.

To compound the woes of the Argentines, who are ranked among the favourites to lift the trophy, superstar Messi failed to convert a second half penalty awarded in the 63rd minute by the referee after Hoerdur Magnusson hacked down an on-rushing Maximiliano Meza. What many considered to be an imminent goal turned out otherwise as goalie Hannes Thor Halldorsson stopped the ball.

The shock result leaves the group wide open ahead of this evening’s clash between Nigeria and Croatia at Kaliningrad.