Mexico missed out on reaching the last 16 of the World Cup despite beating Saudi Arabia 2-1. El Tri started the final round of Group C fixtures in bottom spot but came so close to hurdling into the top two after second-half goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez, the latter scoring with a spectacular 25-yard free-kick.
With Poland en route to a 2-0 defeat to Argentina, Mexico knew unless they scored again they would be heading out of the competition because the Poles had collected fewer yellow cards with all other tie-breakers equal between the two nations.
But Mexican hopes were destroyed in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Saudi skipper Salem Al Dawsari worked a clever one-two with Hatan Bahbri and skilfully converted.
Mexico had last suffered group-stage elimination in 1978, having reached the knockout phase in each of their previous seven World Cups.