Mexico earn victory vs. Saudi Arabia but exit World Cup

MIAMI, Florida – Mexico came up just shy in reaching the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 despite registering a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in their Group C finale on Wednesday night at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Lusail, Qatar.

Mexico finished their group stage campaign with four points, but have been eliminated from Qatar 2022 on goal difference, with Poland finishing with four points and a goal difference of 0, while Mexico’s goal difference with -1.

Mexico came out looking to score from the outset and almost got an early goal from Alexis Vega in the 4’. That was followed by a trio of chances for Orbelin Pineda, with a shot wide in the 25’, a header blocked in the 27’ and then another shot deflected wide in the 41’.

The breakthrough came early in the second stanza when a corner kick in the 47’ was flicked on be Cesar Montes and Henry Martin was there to steer it in for a 1-0 Mexico lead.

The momentum was on Mexico’s side and they doubled advantage to 2-0 when Luis Chavez swung in an impeccable free kick from distance in the 52’.

With Argentina leading Poland 2-0 in the group’s other game, Mexico only required one more goal to punch their knockout round ticket.

The chances came fast and furious, with Hirving Lozano, Martin, Chavez and Pineda all launching efforts toward goal in the final half-hour, but were unable to find a way past Saudi Arabia GK Mohammed Alowais.

Saudi Arabia were able to take advantage of Mexico committing numbers forward and pulled a goal back in the 90+5’ through Salem Aldawsari to make it 2-1.

The objective was still the same though for Mexico, as a third goal would have been enough to secure their passage to the Round of 16, but it was not to be found in the final moments, bringing an end to Mexico’s World Cup campaign.