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Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 but are eliminated from World Cup 2022
Summary
Follow coverage of Saudi Arabia vs Mexico at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar live with The Athletic.
Mexico fell short on goal difference after an inspired second half that saw them score two goals and pressure Saudi Arabia for the majority of the final 45 minutes.
Yet, as they threw bodies forward, Saudi Arabia scored a late goal in the fifth minute of stoppage-time through Salem Aldawsari.
As a result, Mexico finished third in the group after Argentina beat Poland 2-0. Argentina qualify for the last 16 as group winners with Poland finishing second on goal difference.
(Photo: KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images)
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Well, what an evening
Before I pass you back, was that the best evening of World Cup football yet? Jeopardy, confusion, great goals and controversy. Messi and Argentina have successfully navigated their way though a group that started horrendously and Poland also scrape into the next round. This is how the teams currently in last 16 are looking...
A World Cup is always better for Mexico in it - but it wasn't meant to be
Mexico are perennial qualifiers for the knockout stages but they can't manage it this time. It was the first time they failed to progress out of the group stages since 1978. It is likely to end the tenure of Tata Martino, who has long been under huge pressure from the country's media and reports that he has lost the dressing room. But his players gave everything tonight but overturning such a huge goal difference always threatened to be a bridge too far. They bow out and so too does Andrés Guardado, having played in a record-equalling fifth World Cup.
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How can you sum that up?
And that's it. Strange finish to a superb second half. Mexico were mesmerizing at times. But they just couldn't convert openings into goals. And that's their undoing. They then got mugged at the end but the goal didn't change anything. Both these teams are out. Saudi will always have Argentina and Mexico can sing sad songs about tonight.
Full-time: Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
Michael Oliver has blown the whistle on a bonkers match. The best few hours of the World Cup. Mexico and Saudi Arabia played basketball for most of that game, turnovers constant and fouls everywhere. Mexico were outstanding but after the flatness of the first two games, they left themselves with too much to do. The remaining Saudi Arabian fans still in the stadium had something to cheer about but were completely outplayed for most of it.
36 shots in total between the two. 13 on target.
In the end, Argentina top the group, with Poland scraping through in second place on goal difference.
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