FIFA World Cup: Mexico leaves thanks to goal difference after a late battle for survival | Football news

LUSAIL: Mexico scored twice in five minutes of the second half in a thrilling final attempt to qualify for Wednesday’s World Cup, beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 but painfully missing the round of 16 because goal difference.
Goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez shortly after that time put Mexico back into contention, but a string of brilliant saves by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Owais and two disallowed attempts. rejected the elusive goal they needed to move forward.

The match came to an end and there was a time when it looked like Mexico would miss Group C opponents Poland due to receiving more yellow cards, but Saudi striker Salem Al-Dawsari scored in the minute. added time to make the winning goal.

Mexico’s elimination ended a run of seven consecutive appearances in the last 16 at the World Cup, and defeat to Saudi Arabia killed a realistic chance of progressing from the group stage for the first time in 28 years.
Unable to score in the opening two games of Group C, Mexico’s chances of progressing look slim going into the match, depending on the outcome of the match between Argentina and Poland which Argentina won 2-0 to top. board.
In a rush to increase goal difference, Mexico led Saudi Arabia from the start and kept running, scoring with long shots in a desperate bid to take control of their own destiny.
Orbelin Pineda and Chavez were the engines in a high-octane match the Saudis struggled to get into, desperately defending.
Mexico broke the deadlock two minutes after half-time, when Cesar Montes’ clever heel strike from the corner found Martin, who had sent the ball over the bar in a crowded goal.
They doubled the lead in the 52nd minute when Chavez’s powerful free-kick from 20 yards went straight into the corner of the goal just beyond Al-Owais’ reach, prompting the Mexicans to celebrate wildly on the pitch.
Lozano scored but his goal was disallowed and Mexico fought hard for the decisive third goal but was repeatedly denied by Al-Owais’ reflex in the Saudi goal.
Substitute Uriel Antuna had a stunning late strike but was not allowed to be offside in the 4th minute before Al-Dawsari dashed Mexico’s hopes as he scored a consolation goal for Arabia. Saudi Arabia in stoppage time.