After a disappointing Group C campaign, Mexico were eliminated from the 2022 World Cup despite beating Saudi Arabia 2-1 in Lusail. El Tri missed out on a place in the last 16 by a single goal, with Poland taking the group’s second qualification spot.
Mexico have not failed to qualify from their World Cup group since 1978, interrupting a seven-tournament streak of being knocked out in the round of 16.
Coach Gerardo Martino made significant changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Argentina at the weekend, switching to a 4-2-3-1 formation and abandoning the five-man defense that failed to contain Lionel Messi & co.
Jorge Sánchez, Orbelín Pineda, and center-forward Henry Martin came into the team, with a view to providing enough firepower to break down the Saudi back line.
The change in impetus was clear throughout the first half, as Mexico peppered the Saudi Arabia goal with 14 attempts, as many as they had managed in their matches against Poland and Argentina, combined.
Their attacking persistence paid off, and Mexico opened the scoring early on in the second half — their first goal of the tournament up to that point. Henry Martin bundled home the ball after a cleverly flicked-on corner kick.
They doubled their lead five minutes later with one of the tournament’s goals, as Pachuca midfielder Luis Chávez curled a long-range free-kick directly into the top corner of the Saudi net.
With Argentina 1-0 up against Poland in the group’s other match, Mexico were aware they had to extend their lead if they were to have any chance of qualifying.
A second goal for Argentina left Mexico completely level with Poland on points, goal difference, goals scored, and in their head-to-head confrontation. However, due to Fifa’s tie-breaker rules, they were set to be eliminated due to having received more yellow cards than Poland.
Substitute Uriell Antuna thought he had scored Mexico’s all-important third goal just three minutes from the end, but he was correctly flagged for offside.
Then, with Mexico throwing everyone forward to grab the crucial third, Saudi Arabia pulled back an unlikely goal through Salem Al-Dawsari, sealing the Mexican side’s fate.
Mexico came to the tournament in a pessimistic mood, made worse by underwhelming performances in their opening two matches against Poland and Argentina. However, at 2-0 up against Saudi Arabia, it seemed they had a genuine chance of progressing to the knockout rounds.
It is now back to the drawing board for the Mexican team, as Gerardo Martino is unlikely to remain in charge for much longer. Perhaps over-reliant on experience, they will need to blood a new generation of young talent in time for their next World Cup.
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