MEXICO IS OUT OF THE STAGE GROUP EVEN AFTER SUCCEEDING 2-1 OVER SAUDI ARABIA
Although Mexico won 2-1 over Saudi Arabia, the team is out at the group stage after being within one goal of the next round or two yellow cards received by Poland. This is Mexico's first group stage exit since 1978. It has been 36 years since Mexico has been obsessed with Quinto Partido - 'game five'. El Tri has been eliminated from the World Cup in the last 16 for seven consecutive tournaments. After one of the closest and most exciting finishes in the history of the Cup, they have fallen short of even their usual game four in Qatar this year. During the second half, Mexico increased their lead to two goals thanks to a tap-in from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez's long-range free kick. All metrics, except yellow cards, were level between Poland and Argentina despite Poland's two-goal deficit.
Mexican players like Tata Martino, who were booed loudly by their own fans before kick-off, put everything on the line in an attempt to find a goal, but they were stung by a Saudi Arabian goal in the 95th minute. Qatar has presented a different Mexico than what we have seen so far. In the opening minutes of the game, Mexico should have gone ahead through Vega in the Lusail Stadium, which was packed with Saudi Arabia fans. The ball was played in perfectly, but Mohammed Al Owais parried his one-on-one attempt. Jesus Gallardo attempted to pull off a spectacular cross but to no avail. From the first whistle in this year's World Cup, Mexico threw bodies forward without restraint and without scoring a goal. The left-footed effort of Edson Alvarez from 18 yards was deflected just wide and there was a great deal of huffing and puffing from a team desperate to score. In the final minute of added time, Ali Al Hassan met a cross with a diving header just wide of the left post as Saudi Arabia played on the break. Before the interval, one attack brought the crowd to life, and they went into the break level, but with the knowledge that one goal would be crucial.
After making an iman impressive move in the box from a corner, the ball was flicked onto him by Henry Martin, who met it from close range and drove the ball into the goals Mac Allister had put Argentina ahead which gave Mexico a sniff, but they still needed a two-goal swing. After being awarded a free kick, Chavez took the ball and fired it into the top corner from 35 yards out. After Marcus Rashford and Chavez had not scored a direct free-kick for their countries, it was a significant achievement. Finally, Mexico came to the World Cup party and looked quite different from the stale outfit of their first two games. The third goal by Lozano was ruled out for offside, and they only needed one goal to qualify for the round of 16 as they always do.
Julian Alvarez scored Argentina's second goal, bringing Mexico level with Poland on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded. A little over 20 minutes before the end of the World Cup, Mexico was headed out of the tournament due to the fact that they had been issued more yellow cards than Poland. From close range, Martin volleyed over before Chavez nearly scored another free-kick. When Lozano broke clear, he was fouled on the edge of the box, and Chavez was given another opportunity but was unable to put the ball into the net. Five minutes into injury time, Uriel Antuna had the ball in the net, but the ball was flagged offside and Saudi Arabia scored the winning goal. After playing a one-two on the edge of the area, Salem Al Dawsari scored to break the Mexican hearts. The fourth and fifth games have been canceled. Saudi Arabia and Mexico both failed to advance from their respective groups.
