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FIFA World Cup 2022: Mexico beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 but fail to progress, watch

December 1, 2022
Bharat Times

Luis Chavez lay on the pitch in agony for a long time after the final whistle. He had just scored in Mexico’s desperate attempt to stay alive at the World Cup, but it was not enough for a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (30 November). Due to Argentina’s 2–0 victory over Poland in an accompanying match, Mexico failed to get out of their group for the first time since 1978.

Chávez said gloomily, “We had a chance to qualify.” “We didn’t get it.”

Mexico had reached the knockout round in seven previous World Cups, second only to Brazil, which has gone through the round of 16 since 1986. El Tri went into the match at the Lusail Stadium needing both a win and a help from Poland to play across town. to advance against Argentina in Group C of the FIFA World Cup 2022. Argentina’s victory meant goal difference – and Mexico did not have enough goals.

Henri Martin scored to give El Tri hope in the 48th minute, and Chavez scored from a free kick four minutes later to further improve the team’s chances. Mexico tried desperately to get another goal in the final 20 minutes – including an effort from Uriel Antuna in the 87th minute, which was ruled offside – but was unsuccessful.

“We needed one more goal. I didn’t know what happened at the end,” said Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, playing in his fifth World Cup. “For us, the object was to score three or four goals. damn.”

Salem Aldawsari scored in second-half stoppage time for Saudi Arabia, who were drawn out with Mexico despite defeating Argentina in their opening match. Martin’s goal ended Mexico’s 431-minute scoring drought at the World Cup, dating back to their second group match at the 2018 tournament in Russia. It was the team’s longest stretch without a goal in the tournament.

Mexico started the tournament with a 0–0 draw against Poland in Qatar but lost 2–0 to Lionel Messi and Argentina. Mexico had not been eliminated from the group stage since the World Cup in Argentina 44 years earlier. El Tri did not qualify for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and was banned from the 1990 event in Italy for using over-aged players in an under-20 tournament.

Mexico coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said, “I must say that I take full responsibility for this colossal failure.”

View highlights of mexico vs saudi arabia FIFA World Cup 2022 matches here…

Mexico advanced to the round of 16 in their last seven encounters – but no further. El Tri came to Qatar looking to play in an elusive “quinto partido” – the fifth game – for the first time since Mexico hosted the tournament in 1986. Saudi Arabia pulled off the biggest upset of the tournament so far when they defeated Argentina 2–1. , But the Green Falcons could not pull off another surprise with a 2–0 loss to Poland in their second match.

The Saudis reached the round of 16 on the team’s World Cup debut in 1994, but have not progressed beyond the group stage since. Saudi Arabia’s coach Hervé Renard said, “The intensity that Mexico showed in the match made it hard to breathe tonight.”

Many of the Saudi team were also part of the squad that went to the 2018 World Cup. But nobody plays outside their country. Twelve players on the roster are with Al Hilal, which has won a record 18 Saudi league championships.

(With PTI inputs)