Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico: Tata Martino's time in charge of El Tri ends with an early World Cup exit despite victory... as both sides head home and Poland go through on goal difference
- Mexico earned their first win of the World Cup by beating Saudi Arabia 2-1
- Henry Martin tapped in and Luis Chaves scored a stunning free kick for 2-0 lead
- Salem Al Dawsari guided the ball past Guillermo Ochoa in the 95th minute
- However, the victory was not enough to see El Tri progress to the knockouts
- Mexico crashed out at group stage for first time in 44 years on goal difference
- Argentina beat Poland 2-0 but both sides progressed to the knockout stage
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, fixtures, live action and results
Luis Chavez swerved a searing free kick into the top corner of Saudi Arabia's net and Gerardo Martino blew out his cheeks ran his fingers through his grey hair.
Mexico boss Martino has witnessed plenty during a life in football but this was a gesture to suggest he might not be able to stand much more of this.
His team had scored for the second time in five minutes at the start of the second half. The first tapped in from a corner by Henry Martin and, suddenly, they had a chance of qualifying for the last 16.
This had seemed an outrageous long shot at the start of the night but now it seemed they might score with every attack after enduring two-and-a-half games without finding the net.
They were going to require at least one more but there was more than half an hour to play and, across Doha, Argentina were helping by beating Poland 2-0. Hope surged through millions of Mexicans around the world and their team continued to pour forward.
Hirving Lozano thought he had the third when he burst clear to beat goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais only to find he was offside. Uriel Antuna also found the net only to be denied by an offside flag. Both correct decisions by Premier League referee Michael Oliver and his team of officials.
The Saudi goal was under siege. Owais warmed to his role and made saves, and Oliver stood firm under increasing desperate attempts to convince him to point to the penalty spot. Martin volleyed over a terrific chance. Chavez unleashed another free-kick, this time saved.
Poised like this, one more goal would have swung them past Poland into second place in Group C. One more for Argentina would have locked Poland and Mexico together and they would be counting yellow cards to see who would go through on the fair play ruling.
Then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the Saudis broke clear and Salem Al-Dawsari converted the goal to end the fightback. It had been a gallant 45 minutes but too little and far too late for Mexico. They were out in the group stage for the first time since 1978.
For Saudi Arabia, it proved a case of too much too soon. They also bow out having lit up the first week of the tournament with a spectacular victory over Argentina.
Mexico came out firing. Chavez flashed one wide and Alexis Vega darted through onto goalkeeper Owais, who sped from his line to save and then pushed a dangerous cross from the head of Martin.
Chavez volleyed from 20 yards straight at 'keeper Owais and Orbelin Pineda had three efforts from good positions, none of which threatened to find the net. This commitment made for an open and frantic contest.
Saudi ventured out rarely in the first half but when they did there was space to attack and they were roared forward by strong support in the stadium.
Mohamed Kanno fired a dipping shot over on the counter-attack and went closer with a free-kick, curled over the defensive wall but just too high, and they produced a flurry of adventure in stoppage time at the end of the first half, including an ambitious appeal for a penalty for a foul on Feras Al-Brikan.
Saudi Arabia lost defender Ali Al-Bulayhi in the first half, another injury to trouble boss Herve Renard, who started the game without three injured players, including captain Salman Al-Faraj, and one suspended.
There was a positive update before kick-off, however, confirming defender Yasser al-Sharani had been discharged from hospital after two operations, eight days after the a collision with his own goalkeeper left him with serious facial injuries and internal bleeding, during the win over Argentina.
Resistance was broken early in the second half. Owais pushed a shot by Chavez shot out for a corner and from the set-piece Mexico opened the scoring. Cesar Montes flicked it on at the near post and Martin was first to react, turning it into the net from close range.
The Chavez curled in his free-kick to spark a frenzied ending. It was breathless entertainment but ultimately worth nothing for either team. They are both out of the World Cup.
Relive all the action from Mexico's dramatic, and agonizing, 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Group C with Sportsmail's live blog...
Isabel BaldwinHost commentator
What a game! What a second half!
After enter the game rock bottom of the group, Mexico had the last 16 in its sights for 40 minutes but ultimately their desperate chasing wasn't enough.
Tata Martino's side did all they could. They did their part, got the win but Argentina simply couldn't do them a favor and find a third.
Ultimately, Saudi Arabia's last-gasp goal sees both sides eliminated with Mexico agonizingly making its first group-stage exit in 44 years on goal difference.
Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
Poland 0-2 Argentina
Argentina and Poland are through to the last-16
There's a goal! But it's not the one Mexico want...
Saudi Arabia fly up the pitch after Mexico commit men forward. Al Dawsari plays a one-two to get into the penalty area and then guides a lovely finish past Ochoa.
Well, that's that then. So much for a thrilling finish. Poland can breathe easy.
Then again, two goals in 60 seconds anyone?
Lozano pulls the trigger once more but balloons that effort way over the bar.
THERE'S NO TIME FOR THAT!
It's fulltime in the Poland vs Argentina game and it's finished 2-0. Four minutes for Mexico to find the deicer.
There will be an additional seven minutes here... you can cut the tension with a knife. Theatrics were promised, have they not delivered?
Mexico have the ball in the net! Substitute Uriel Antuna looks to have handed Mexico the decisive goal but it's once again chalked off! Antuna just makes his run too early.
The Poland v Argentina game is slightly ahead, it's headed for six minutes added time. It could be that that game warps up before this one and Mexico are left with minutes knowing they must find a decisive goal...
Time is ticking, under ten minutes of normal time left and you can practically smell the desperation.
But Mexico has another chance with a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area as Lozano is brought down having broken through the lines.
Lozano touches it left to Chavez and Saudi Arabia’s defenders spring from the wall and make the block. They try a rare counter-attack that comes to nothing.
What a waste!!
Raul Jimenez is on the field, can he be the striker Mexico needs? He replaces goalscorer Henry Martin, who has been phenomenal.
Pineda also makes way for Carlos Alberto Rodriguez.
Mexico are still knocking but they still can't find the third!
Mexico sweep the ball over to the left side of the pitch where Martin brings it under control before laying the ball off to Orbelin Pineda.
Pineda rolls the ball onto his right foot and guides it towards goal. Al Owais dives to his left to make the save but it bounces inches past the right post.
Another free-kick to Mexico and it’s in Chavez range. Can he do it again? No, instead he tells Lozano to have a crack.
It's another fantastic curling effort towards the top left corner but this time Al Owais is able to make the leaping block
That save is currently all that stands between Mexico and the last 16... everyone's heart rates still okay?
Mexico need another goal and they'll know it. No doubt the information from the other Group C game is being fed to them from the sidelines.
They ramp it up again. A free kick to Mexico comes into the box where it’s headed over to Martin. He meets it on the volley and drills a volley over the crossbar!
Agonizingly close!
Argentina have scored a second!
This means Poland and Mexico on level on, well, basically everything!
Points, goal difference, goals for, goals against... everything BUT fair play, which isn't going in Mexico's favor.
Poland currently have five yellow cards to Mexico's seven. As it stands Mexico are going out on yellow cards... that's right, yellow cards.
This seems like a good time to update you on how things are looking in Group C...
After the flurry of action both games have seen in the second half, Mexico are now level on points with Poland but their two goals are not enough to send them through... yet.
They need a third to pull level with Poland on goal difference and go ahead of them on goal scored.
Oh my word Mexico are really fired up now! They almost have a third as Lozano has the ball in the net but it's chalked off for offside.
It's looks like a good call, doubt VAR needs to get involved on that one.
What. A. Goal!
Mexico win a free-kick nearly 30 yards out and Chavez steps up to take it with an outrageous strike.
His whipped left footer curls away from Owais and into the top corner.
It's his first international goal and it's simply jaw-dropping from Chavez! Mexico have gone from zero goals at the World Cup to two in the space of four minutes.
Saudi Arabia look to respond immediately and win a free-kick not too far outside the box but Al Dawsari goes for a delicate chip to a teammate in white rather than a shot and it’s headed away.
GOOOOOOOOOOL!
A mexico corner early into the second half and Cesar Montes flicks it on to Henry Martin and the striker taps in from close range!!!!
El Tri have started the second half in the same fast fashion as the first and it finally pays off.
Mexico FINALLY have their first goal at the World Cup!
And we're back underway!
While we've been waiting for the second half to start, there's been a goal elsewhere in Group C.
Within a minute of the restart a ball was cut back into the box for Alexis Mac Allister, who superbly fired home first time. 1-0 to Argentina.
As it stands both Mexico and Saudi Arabia are heading home...
Mexico have looked lively and arguably should be heading into the break with the lead after a number of strong chances. Saudi Arabia gave them a scare at the end of the first half but the do-or-die crunch clash is still deadlocked.
Over in the other game, Poland are also managing to hold Messi and Co. As it stands Argentina and Poland are going through.
Saudi Arabia 0-0 Mexico HT
Poland 0-0 Argentina 0-0 HT
Saudi Arabia have their best chance of the game so far. Al Ghanam gets to the byline and pings in a cross and Al Hassan’s header isn’t too far wide of the far post.
It's a missed chance but it has reignited the Saudi support
Al Buraikan is played through on goal. He surges on goal but a Mexican defender puts in a crucial challenge.
Al Buraikan goes down calling for a foul but he basically didn't have the pace and Oliver plays on.
Yes thanks
ReplyDelete