Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 but crashed out of the World Cup on goal difference on a night of incredible drama in Doha.
Argentina beat Poland 2-0 in Group C at the Stadio 974 and Mexico were ahead by the same scoreline in the 94th minute at the Lucille Stadium, denying Gerardo Martino’s side a relegation under FIFA’s fair play rules. One more goal was needed.
But an injury-time consolation goal for Saudi Arabia from Salim Al-Dusri sent a distraught Mexico home anyway, leaving the Polish players to celebrate across town.
After a stop-start first half with little rhythm, the match burst into life two minutes after the break.
The Mexico fans had barely calmed down their celebrations before Luis Chavez curled a stunning 30-yard free-kick into the top corner to send his supporters into a frenzy.
They thought they had another but Herring Lozano’s low strike was chalked up for offside and Martin should have had a second but volleyed over from 12 yards.
It was all Mexico as they pushed for more goals. Chavez almost had another superb free-kick but Mohamed El Owais palmed it, then Orbelon Pineda curled just wide.
Mexico thought they had sealed promotion when Uriel Antona struck late on, but he too was flagged for offside and they went out in the most embarrassing fashion.
Agony for Mexico
The first half was forgettable, the drama in the second will live long in the memories.
It was utter chaos before the game, with thousands of Saudi fans traveling across the border for a game in which a win would have secured a place in the knockout stages.
But they couldn’t really put Mexico under pressure and eventually both sides crashed out of the competition.
At one stage, Mexico had to be knocked out as they had collected more yellow cards (seven) than Poland (five), with the two teams level on points and goal difference.
While Al-Dossari’s late goal didn’t change anything, Mexico fans were still left dejected at full-time, some with their heads in their hands long after the final whistle.
Martin’s opener from close range and Chavez’s curling free-kick gave them hope, but two disallowed goals dashed any hopes of getting out of the group.
The result ends a streak of progressing to the round of 16, having done so at the previous eight World Cups, a run stretching back to 1978.
For Saudi Arabia, despite a victory in the opening game against Argentina, the tournament ended in disappointment at the bottom of the group in what will go down as one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.
Mohamed Kanu had his chances, flicking wide from Zawiya and narrowly curling over a free-kick, while Ali Al Hasan almost went over on the stroke of half-time.
The stadium was mostly packed with rowdy Saudi supporters and they went home with one last cheer as Al-Dossari coolly converted late on.
