Saudi Arabia led Mexico out of the World Cup
Mexico was very close to the ticket to the 1/8 round, but they could not score more than two goals in the game where Gerardo Martino's students finished 26 times. Won 2-1, representing the Americas with Poland's points, but only ranked third due to poor goal difference - goals conceded.
Two matches at the same time in the last leg of Group C saw the scoreboard change at the beginning of the second half. Mexico scored twice to lead Saudi Arabia 2-0 after 52 minutes, and Argentina also opened the scoring against Poland. The ticket to go on was closer to Mexico, when Argentina increased the score to 2-0 in the 67th minute. At this time, Argentina was first in the group, Poland ranked second, but only ahead of Mexico in terms of fair-play.
While Poland did not intend to find an equalizer against Argentina, Mexico rushed to attack before Saudi Arabia. Martino's teachers and students have the same 4 points, the same difference, but 2 yellow cards over the opponent. Mexico needed to score a goal to get ahead of Poland by sub-status, but failed to do so. Even when Al-Dawsari shortened the score to 1-2 for Saudi Arabia in the extra minutes, Mexico still only needed to score one more goal to go through. But they could not concretize the great pressure into the third goal.
Saudi Arabia kicked in the first two matches against Argentina and Poland, but was inferior to Mexico during 90 minutes. The Asian representative was pushed deep into the home field, before an opponent who was thirsty for a big victory. After an ineffective attack in the first half, Mexico found the goal early in the second half, when Henry Martin linked the goal from close range, following a pass from Cesar Montes from the corner.
The Mexican euphoria was transformed into a second goal just five minutes later. From a distance of more than 25 meters, Luis Chavez shot a free kick into the high corner, knocking out goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais.
Mexico looked to have a third goal within 9 minutes, but Hirving Lozano's escape to hit Saudi Arabia was disallowed for offside. In the remaining minutes, Mexico attacked fiercely, but the finishing phases of Lozano, Chavez or Pineda could not defeat Al Owais. When Uriel Antuna beat the Saudi goalkeeper in the 87th minute, the goal was disallowed, also because of offside.
While Mexico needs a goal, Saudi Arabia needs a 2-2 draw to progress. When Salem Al-Dawsari scored after a smash against Hattan Sultan Babhir in the fifth minute of added time, both teams were in a position to only need to score one more goal to go through. But in the few remaining minutes of compensation, neither team conceded the opponent's net.
Saudi Arabia is at the bottom of Group C with 3 points from the victory over Argentina. Mexico with 4 points, difference -1, ranked third. Poland ranked second with 4 points, 0 difference and they will meet France in the first knockout round. Argentina tops Group C with 6 points and will face Australia in the round of 16.
