Match ends, Saudi Arabia 1, Mexico 2.
Mexico defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1 but agonisingly went out of the World Cup on goal difference on a night of incredible drama in Doha.
With Argentina beating Poland 2-0 in Group C at Stadium 974 and Mexico leading by the same scoreline at Lusail Stadium in the 94th minute, Gerardo Martino's side needed one more goal to prevent them from going out according to Fifa's fair play rule.
Salem Al Dawsari's added-time consolation goal for Saudi Arabia sent the distraught Mexicans home on goal difference instead, leaving Poland's players to celebrate across the city.
After a stop-start first half with little rhythm to it, the match burst into life two minutes after the break as Henry Martin reacted quickest to finish Cesar Montes' flick on.
Mexico fans had barely calmed their celebrations before Luis Chavez curled a glorious 30-yard free-kick into the top corner to send their supporters into pandemonium.
They thought they had another but Hirving Lozano's low strike was chalked off for offside and Martin should have had a second but volleyed over from 12 yards out.
It was all Mexico as they pushed for further goals. Chavez nearly struck another stunning free-kick but Mohammed Al Owais palmed it out, then OrbelĂn Pineda curled narrowly wide.
Mexico thought they had sealed progression when Uriel Antuna stroked in late on, but that too was flagged for offside and they went out in the most excruciating manner.
- Mexico despair but Poland joy on 'crazy day of football'
- 'This was the night the real Argentina stood up'
Agony for Mexico
The first half was one to forget, the drama in the second will live long in the memory.
It was absolute chaos before the game, with thousands of Saudi fans making the trip across the border for a game in which victory would have secured a place in the knockout stage.
But they never really managed to put Mexico under pressure and ultimately both sides went out of the competition.
At one stage, Mexico were set to be knocked out because they had collected more yellow cards (seven) than Poland (five), with the two teams level on points and goal difference.
While Al Dawsari's late goal changed little, Mexico fans were still left dejected at full-time, with some staying long after the final whistle with their head in their hands.
Martin's opener from close range and Chavez's peach of a free-kick gave them hope, but two disallowed goals crushed any optimism of advancing out of the group.
The result ends a sequence of progression to the round of 16, having done so at the previous eight World Cups, a run stretching back to 1978.
For Saudi Arabia, the tournament ends in disappointment by finishing bottom of the group despite an opening game victory over Argentina that will go down as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
Mohamed Kanno had his chances, shanking wide from the angle and curling a free-kick narrowly over, while Ali Al Hassan almost headed in on the stroke of half-time.
The stadium was filled mostly with raucous Saudi supporters and they went home with one final cheer as Al Dawsari coolly converted late on.
Player of the match
ChĂĄvezLuis ChĂĄvez
Saudi Arabia
Avg
- Squad number10Player nameSalem Al DawsariAverage rating
7.48
- Squad number26Player nameRiyadh SharahiliAverage rating
6.98
- Squad number3Player nameAbdullah MaduAverage rating
6.92
- Squad number17Player nameHassan TambaktiAverage rating
6.88
- Squad number23Player nameMohammed KannoAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number19Player nameHattan BahbriAverage rating
6.85
- Squad number11Player nameSaleh Al ShehriAverage rating
6.75
- Squad number4Player nameAbdulelah Al AmriAverage rating
6.74
- Squad number20Player nameAbdulrahman Al ObudAverage rating
6.71
- Squad number5Player nameAli Al BulayhiAverage rating
6.61
- Squad number15Player nameAli Al HassanAverage rating
6.60
- Squad number12Player nameSaud AbdulhamidAverage rating
6.33
- Squad number9Player nameFeras Al BrikanAverage rating
6.15
- Squad number2Player nameSultan Al GhannamAverage rating
6.14
- Squad number21Player nameMohammed Al OwaisAverage rating
6.00
Mexico
Avg
- Squad number24Player nameChĂĄvezAverage rating
7.79
- Squad number13Player nameOchoaAverage rating
7.63
- Squad number4Player nameĂlvarezAverage rating
7.62
- Squad number10Player nameVegaAverage rating
7.57
- Squad number22Player nameLozanoAverage rating
7.22
- Squad number19Player nameSĂĄnchezAverage rating
7.18
- Squad number20Player nameMartĂnAverage rating
7.17
- Squad number3Player nameMontesAverage rating
7.08
- Squad number17Player namePinedaAverage rating
7.06
- Squad number21Player nameAntunaAverage rating
6.97
- Squad number26Player nameĂlvarezAverage rating
6.95
- Squad number8Player nameRodrĂguezAverage rating
6.64
- Squad number23Player nameGallardoAverage rating
6.64
- Squad number9Player nameJiménezAverage rating
6.63
- Squad number15Player nameMorenoAverage rating
6.55
- Squad number11Player nameFunes MoriAverage rating
6.50
Line-ups
Saudi Arabia
Formation 4-4-2
- 21Al Owais
- 2Al GhannamSubstituted forBahbriat 88'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 4Al AmriBooked at 90mins
- 17Al TambaktiBooked at 52mins
- 5Al BulayhiSubstituted forSharahiliat 37'minutes
- 9Al Brikan
- 15Al HassanBooked at 34minsSubstituted forMaduat 45'minutesBooked at 81mins
- 12Abdulhamid
- 10Al Dawsari
- 11Al ShehriBooked at 28minsSubstituted forAl Obudat 62'minutes
- 23Kanno
Substitutes
- 1Al Rubaie Al Yami
- 3Madu
- 14Otayf
- 16Al Naji
- 18Al Abid
- 19Bahbri
- 20Al Obud
- 22Al Suweiti Al Aqidi
- 24Al Shardan Al Dawsari
- 25Asiri
- 26Sharahili
Mexico
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Ochoa
- 19SĂĄnchezSubstituted forĂlvarezat 86'minutes
- 3Montes
- 15Moreno
- 23Gallardo
- 4ĂlvarezBooked at 16minsSubstituted forFunes Moriat 86'minutes
- 24ChĂĄvez
- 22Lozano
- 17PinedaSubstituted forRodrĂguezat 77'minutes
- 10VegaSubstituted forAntunaat 45'minutes
- 20MartĂnSubstituted forJimĂ©nezat 77'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Talavera
- 2AraĂșjo
- 5VĂĄsquez
- 6Arteaga
- 7Romo
- 8RodrĂguez
- 9Jiménez
- 11Funes Mori
- 12Cota
- 14Gutiérrez
- 16Herrera
- 18Guardado
- 21Antuna
- 25Alvarado
- 26Ălvarez
- Referee:
- Michael Oliver
- Attendance:
- 84,985
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home10
- Away26
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away11
- Corners
- Home1
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home20
- Away18
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Saudi Arabia 1, Mexico 2.
Post update
Foul by RaĂșl JimĂ©nez (Mexico).
Post update
Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Hattan Bahbri (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Hirving Lozano (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Hattan Bahbri (Saudi Arabia).
Post update
Foul by Rogelio Funes Mori (Mexico).
Post update
Mohammed Al Owais (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Saudi Arabia 1, Mexico 2. Salem Al Dawsari (Saudi Arabia) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hattan Bahbri.
Post update
Foul by Rogelio Funes Mori (Mexico).
Post update
Hassan Tambakti (Saudi Arabia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
RaĂșl JimĂ©nez (Mexico) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Hattan Bahbri (Saudi Arabia).
Post update
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Mohammed Kanno.
Post update
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Saud Abdulhamid.
Post update
Attempt saved. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Abdulelah Al Amri (Saudi Arabia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Rogelio Funes Mori (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Comments
Join the conversation
It wasnât meant to be this time around, but they should feel proud of making it this far.
They played some impressive football along the way, so fair play.
Despite having a huge football mad population and winning a recent Olympics Gold in football they have only ever ventured into the QFs on 2 occasions being the 2 WCs they hosted.
They lost both times.
Just proof yet again that the best teams don't always win.
Mexico peaked too late in 2022
Argentina win the group, as predicted, but Mexico must be gutted!
That yellow card elimination rule wouldâve sent them out too, and that wouldâve sent them and their fans ballistic at the Ref though, so maybe just as well the Saudiâs scored!
Both played good to watch football ....yet boring Poland progress..
Didn't break a sweat them poles !
Mexico's football was so enjoyable ,full of action,rather then Poland's defensive, kill the flow of the game, action less no shoots on target play...