World Cup 2022 – Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico: Salem Al-Dawsari ends Mexican hopes with late aim

Mexico dramatically missed out on the World Cup knockout part regardless of a spirited 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia, as Poland progressed as Group C runners-up by advantage of a superior aim distinction.

In an exhilarating finale to Group C on the Lusail Stadium, Henry Martin’s opener (47) and Luis Chavez’s spectacular free-kick (52), mixed with Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Poland, left Mexico with three stoppage-time minutes to search out the third aim wanted to keep away from exiting the group on account of an inferior truthful play factors complete.

Saudi Arabia’s hopes of securing victory wanted to seal their progress into the final 16 didn’t get off the bottom however, out of nowhere, Salem Al-Dawsari struck in stoppage-time to go away Mexico needing to attain two extra objectives, all however ending their possibilities of leapfrogging Poland.

The outcome means Group C winners Argentina will face Australia on Saturday and runners-up Poland will tackle France within the final 16 on Sunday, as Mexico mirror on what may need been having left themselves with an excessive amount of to do after saying their arrival on the match within the ultimate group sport.

How Mexico had been denied in thrilling Group C finale

The drama and rigidity that was to return was encapsulated by the nationwide anthems, the place the bulk Saudi crowd’s passionate rendition was matched by the Mexican contingent. It very practically propelled Mexico into an early lead, however Alexis Vega’s third-minute strike was brilliantly smothered by Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais.

Mohamed Kanno lashed over from a good angle and Saudi captain Salem Al-Dawsari whistled a free-kick inches over the bar inside 12 minutes earlier than the frenetic begin settled and Mexico started to take a grip of the sport.

Abdulelah Al Amri and Hassan Altambakti joined forces to dam Oberlin Pineda’s block halfway by the half earlier than the Mexico playmaker’s diving header was brilliantly blocked by Sultan Al Ghanam moments later.

Ali Al-Hassan glanced a header huge in stoppage-time for Saudi Arabia, however the half belonged to the much-improved Mexicans, who took simply two minutes to say their authority after the break when Henry Martin transformed Cesar Montes’ flick from a nook handy them the lead.

Mexico’s first aim of the match unleashed the shackles, and a second got here 5 minutes later, Chavez’s sensational long-range free-kick doubling their benefit to maneuver them to inside a aim of cancelling out Poland’s aim distinction benefit.

News of Argentina’s second aim in opposition to Poland introduced Mexico stage with the Poles on factors and on aim distinction, however their inferior truthful play factors complete left them looking for one other aim to qualify.

After Martin noticed an effort dominated out for offside, the striker blasted an excellent volley over and Chavez was denied a second spectacular free-kick by the diving Al-Owais earlier than Pineda whistled a shot huge with 1 / 4 of an hour remaining.

Uriel Antuna thought he had scored the aim to ship Mexico by two minutes from time, just for his effort to be dominated out for offside. News of Argentina’s victory filtered by however with an important third aim not forthcoming, Mexico’s desperation left them uncovered defensively and Al-Dawsari pounced to extinguish their hopes.

‘We did not even attain the fourth sport’

Mexico goalscorer Luis Chavez mentioned: “We are very frustrated. After the first two games we were left with a lot to do and this last one was not enough for us.

“We did not have any objectives and we had a scarcity of consideration on the again immediately and it ended up leaving us out.

“We will see what happens next, those of us who have to leave this national team, this cannot happen to Mexico. We had set ourselves the goal of the fifth game and we didn’t even reach the fourth.”

Group-stage heartbreak for Mexico – Opta stats

• Mexico have been eradicated within the group phases of the World Cup for the primary time since 1978 – they’d progressed from the group phases in every of their earlier eight participations.
• Saudi Arabia have been eradicated within the group phases for the fifth time in six participations on the World Cup (1998, 2002, 2006, 2018 and 2022). The exception was in 1994 after they reached the Round of 16.
• Mexico’s Henry Martin scored his nation’s first aim on the 2022 World Cup – it was their twenty ninth effort at aim on the match.
• Saudi Arabia obtained 14 yellow playing cards within the 2022 World Cup group stage, a brand new report for a group in a single group stage in World Cup historical past.