Mexico exit World Cup on goal difference despite beating Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper #21 Mohammed Al-Owais and teammates react to conceding the opening goal of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)

Mexico suffered an agonising exit from the World Cup on goal difference on Wednesday despite beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in a dramatic finale to Group C.

Second-half goals from Henry Martin and Luis Chavez secured victory for Mexico at Lusail Stadium but they finished third behind Poland after Salem Al-Dawsari’s late strike.

Mexico desperately pushed for a third goal in an effort to improve their goal difference as they faced elimination on FIFA fair play rules but they fell short.

Mexico’s midfielder #08 Carlos Rodriguez (L) and Mexico’s midfielder #04 Edson Alvarez (R) react after the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C football match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP)

“It’s a great sadness and I assume responsibility for this huge failure.”

Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina in their opening match was one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history but they crashed back down to earth with a 2-0 loss to Poland in their second game.

Coach Herve Renard urged his players to show that was no flash in the pan and write themselves into Saudi football history by reaching the knockout rounds for the first time since 1994.

“Before this game we were dreaming to do it again,” said Renard. “With the game we did today we didn’t deserve to go to the second round.”

“Mexico were much better than us,” he added.

Having failed to win either of their first two group games for the