FIFA World Cup 2022: Mexico Beat Saudi Arabia 2-1 But Fall Short At The Final Hurdle

For a long time after the final whistle, Luis Chavez crouched on the field in anguish. (More Football News)

He had just scored in Mexico바카라�s furious attempt to stay alive at the World Cup, but the 2-1 victory Wednesday over Saudi Arabia wasn바카라�t enough. Because of Argentina바카라�s 2-0 victory over Poland in a simultaneous match, Mexico failed to advance out of its group for the first time since 1978.

바카라�We had a chance to qualify,바카라� Chavez said glumly. 바카라�We didn바카라�t achieve it.바카라�

Mexico had reached the knockout round at the last seven World Cups, second only to Brazil, which has gone through to the round of 16 since 1986.

El Tri went into the match at Lusail Stadium needing both a victory and help from Poland playing across town against Argentina to advance in Group C. Argentina바카라�s victory meant goal difference came into play 바카라� and Mexico didn바카라�t have enough of them.

Henry Martin scored in the 48th minute to give El Tri hope, and the team바카라�s chances got even better with Chavez바카라�s goal on a free kick four minutes later.

Mexico tried desperately in the final 20 minutes to get another goal 바카라� including an effort by Uriel Antuna in the 87th minute that was ruled offside 바카라� but came up short.

바카라�We needed one more goal. I didn바카라�t know exactly what happened at the end,바카라� said veteran Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa, who was playing in his fifth World Cup. 바카라�For us, the object was to score three or four goals. It바카라�s a shame.바카라�

Salem Aldawsari scored in second-half stoppage time for Saudi Arabia, which was eliminated along with Mexico despite beating Argentina in its opening match.

Martin바카라�s goal ended Mexico바카라�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 team바카라�s longest ever stretch without a goal at the tournament.

Mexico opened the tournament in Qatar with a 0-0 draw against Poland and but fell 2-0 to Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Mexico hadn바카라�t been eliminated from the group stage since the World Cup in Argentina 44 years ago. El Tri didn바카라�t qualify for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, and was banned from the 1990 event in Italy for using overage players at an under-20 tournament.

바카라�I must say that I assume all the responsibility for this massive failure,바카라� Mexico coach Garardo 바카라�Tata바카라� Martino said.

Mexico advanced to the round of 16 in its last seven appearances 바카라� but no further. El Tri came to Qatar looking to play in an elusive 바카라�quinto partido바카라� 바카라� a fifth game 바카라� for the first time since Mexico hosted the tournament in 1986.

Saudi Arabia had one of the tournament바카라�s biggest ever upsets ever when it beat Argentina 2-1. But the Green Falcons couldn바카라�t pull off another surprise in its second match, a 2-0 loss to Poland.

The Saudis reached the round of 16 back in 1994, the team바카라�s World Cup debut, but haven바카라�t made it past the group stage since.

바카라�Tonight it was difficult to breathe with the intensity Mexico put into the match,바카라� Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard said.

Many on the Saudi team were also part of the squad that went to the 2018 World Cup. But none play outside of their home country. Twelve players on the roster are with Al Hilal, which has won a record 18 Saudi league championships.

Mexico dominated the first half. Orbelin Pineda had one of the best of three good chances for El Tri, but it was easily grabbed by Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais in the 25th minute.

The game turned quickly in Mexico바카라�s favor with Martin바카라�s goal, but the celebration was muted. Chavez바카라�s free kick in the 52nd that went into the upper corner just out of Alowais바카라� reach brought Mexico바카라�s reserves rushing onto the field.

Hirving Lozano nearly had a third goal but he was offside. Chavez had another free kick that missed as Mexico tried in vain to score more goals.

Martino had been roundly criticized for the lack of scoring. He had already been questioned over some of his choices, including his decision to leave all-time leading scorer Javier 바카라�Chicharito바카라� Hernandez off the team.

Hernandez, who now plays for the LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer, scored the team바카라�s last goal in a 2-1 group-stage victory over South Korea in Russia.

After the match, Martino said his contract with the Mexico had ended with the final whistle.

Ochoa, however, wasn바카라�t ready to say if he바카라�d still be with the team in 2026 when Mexico, the United States and Canada will host the World Cup.

바카라�We will see. We will see,바카라� Ochoa said. 바카라�Tonight I바카라�m sad so I have to think about that. But maybe that could happen.바카라�