Mexico beat Saudi Arabia in the last group game and even get some support from Argentina. In the end, a goal for the round of 16 is missing.
What a drama: On Wednesday (November 30th, 2022) Mexico was unlucky enough to miss the round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Coach Gerardo Martino’s team, who dropped after the final whistle, defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 (0-0) in the final group game, but failed in the group stage due to their poor goal difference compared to Poland. Poland finished the group in second place with four points and 2-2 goals, Mexico was third with four points and 2-3 goals.
Mexico since 1994 always in the round of 16
The goals for Mexico were scored by Henry Martín (47′) and Luis Chavez (52′), while Salem Al-Dawsari (90’+5′) scored for Saudi Arabia.
A winning streak at the World Cup ended for Mexico: the Central Americans had previously reached the knockout phase seven times in a row since 1994. Saudi Arabia missed out on their first round of 16 participation since 1994.
Mexico goes full throttle from the start
The starting position before the game was relatively clear: Saudi Arabia needed a win to safely advance to the next round. Mexico needed as big a win as possible to have a theoretical chance of progressing. The Mexican credo: all or nothing.
Accordingly, there was no sampling phase. “El Tri” pushed for the lead from the start and tied the all-white “Green Falcons” to their own penalty area. The Mexicans were clearly the better team in the first half and had nearly 63 percent possession and shots on goal 11:4. However, Chavez (2′), Alexis Vega (3’/45′), Martín (7′) and Orbelin Pineda (25’/27′) didn’t convert that opportunity into goals.
Nothing comes from Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia struggled to get into the game. However, the few advances were not entirely harmless. Mohamed Kanno (8’/13′) missed two good chances, Ali Al Hassan could have turned the game upside down with a header in added time (45’+5′).
Mexico is missing a goal
Shortly after the restart, the race for the top two places really picked up speed. Since Argentina took the lead against Poland (46th) and Mexico were suddenly 2-0 up thanks to a quick double strike from Martin and Chavez, the Mexicans were just one goal away from a ticket to the round of 16 at that point. Saudi Arabia looked shocked and wobbled, Mexico threw everything forward. A goal by Lozano from offside rightly didn’t count (56′).
And then it got even more complicated: as Argentina scored another goal against Poland (68′), Poland and Mexico were tied for points and goals in second and third place. The decisive difference: the better place in the fair play rating for Poland. But it was also clear that another goal from Mexico or Argentina and Mexico would overtake Poland. Football is a simple sport? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that.
Saudi Arabia scores late
In the final phase, a dramatic game developed with wildly running Mexicans and numerous opportunities. Martin (70′), Chavez (73’/78′) and Pineda (76′) missed the best chances. Antuna also scored from a narrow offside position (87′).
With Saudi Arabia tying the net just before the final whistle, the fair play rating was irrelevant at that moment. However, nothing changed in the starting position that Mexico were only one goal missing. But that goal never fell. The bitter end for Mexico was thus sealed.