Mexico beats Saudi Arabia 2-1 but falls short at World Cup
LUSAIL, Qatar (AP) — For a very long time after the ultimate whistle, Luis Chavez crouched on the sector in anguish.
He had simply scored in Mexico’s livid try to remain alive on the World Cup, however the 2-1 victory Wednesday over Saudi Arabia wasn’t sufficient. Because of Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Poland in a simultaneous match, Mexico didn’t advance out of its group for the primary time since 1978.
“We had a chance to qualify,” Chavez stated glumly. “We didn’t achieve it.”
Mexico had reached the knockout spherical on the final seven World Cups, second solely to Brazil, which has gone via to the spherical of 16 since 1986.
El Tri went into the match at Lusail Stadium needing each a victory and assist from Poland enjoying throughout city in opposition to Argentina to advance in Group C. Argentina’s victory meant purpose distinction got here into play — and Mexico didn’t have sufficient of them.
Henry Martin scored within the forty eighth minute to offer El Tri hope, and the workforce’s probabilities obtained even higher with Chavez’s purpose on a free kick 4 minutes later.
Mexico tried desperately within the ultimate 20 minutes to get one other purpose — together with an effort by Uriel Antuna within the 87th minute that was dominated offside — however got here up brief.
“We needed one more goal. I didn’t know exactly what happened at the end,” said veteran Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who was playing in his fifth World Cup. “For us, the object was to score three or four goals. It’s a shame.”
Salem Aldawsari scored in second-half stoppage time for Saudi Arabia, which was eradicated together with Mexico regardless of beating Argentina in its opening match.
Martin’s purpose ended Mexico’s 431-minute scoring drought on the World Cup, relationship again to their second group match on the 2018 match in Russia. It was the workforce’s longest ever stretch with no purpose on the match.
Mexico opened the match in Qatar with a 0-0 draw in opposition to Poland and however fell 2-0 to Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Mexico hadn’t been eradicated from the group stage for the reason that World Cup in Argentina 44 years in the past. El Tri didn’t qualify for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and was banned from the 1990 occasion in Italy for utilizing overage gamers at an under-20 match.
“I must say that I assume all the responsibility for this massive failure,” Mexico coach Garardo “Tata” Martino stated.
Mexico superior to the spherical of 16 in its final seven appearances — however no additional. El Tri got here to Qatar trying to play in an elusive “quinto partido” — a fifth sport — for the primary time since Mexico hosted the match in 1986.
Saudi Arabia had one of many match’s greatest ever upsets ever when it beat Argentina 2-1. But the Green Falcons couldn’t pull off one other shock in its second match, a 2-0 loss to Poland.
The Saudis reached the spherical of 16 again in 1994, the workforce’s World Cup debut, however haven’t made it previous the group stage since.
“Tonight it was tough to breathe with the depth Mexico put into the match,” Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard stated.
Many on the Saudi workforce had been additionally a part of the squad that went to the 2018 World Cup. But none play outdoors of their residence nation. Twelve gamers on the roster are with Al Hilal, which has received a report 18 Saudi league championships.
Mexico dominated the primary half. Orbelin Pineda had among the best of three good probabilities for El Tri, however it was simply grabbed by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais within the twenty fifth minute.
The sport turned shortly in Mexico’s favor with Martin’s purpose, however the celebration was muted. Chavez’s free kick within the 52nd that went into the higher nook simply out of Alowais’ attain introduced Mexico’s reserves dashing onto the sector.
Hirving Lozano practically had a 3rd purpose however he was offside. Chavez had one other free kick that missed as Mexico tried in useless to attain extra objectives.
Martino had been roundly criticized for the dearth of scoring. He had already been questioned over a few of his decisions, together with his determination to depart all-time main scorer Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez off the workforce.
Hernandez, who now performs for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, scored the workforce’s final purpose in a 2-1 group-stage victory over South Korea in Russia.
After the match, Martino stated his contract with the Mexico had ended with the ultimate whistle.
Ochoa, nevertheless, wasn’t able to say if he’d nonetheless be with the workforce in 2026 when Mexico, the United States and Canada will host the World Cup.
“We will see. We will see,” Ochoa said. “Tonight I’m sad so I have to think about that. But maybe that could happen.”
