While Argentina faced the Polish leader, Saudi Arabia were opposed to Mexico in the third day of Group C. Hervé Renard’s Faucons, third in the pool but tied with the Albiceleste, had the opportunity to repeat the feat of the selection in the United States in 1994, an edition during which the Saudis fell in the round of 16 against Sweden (3-1). Last in the standings before this evening, Gerard Martino’s El Tricolor could also find the knockout phase for the eighth time in a row since 1994, without passing the glass ceiling of the 8th, which the Mexicans have never exceeded since.
Mexico got off to a good start by quickly putting pressure on the Saudi defense, first by Vega, whose dive was cleared with the hand by Al-Owais (3rd). The Saudi goalkeeper was not far from paying dearly for his hesitation on the cross to H. Martín (7th). The Falcon team finally reacted through Kanno, whose powerful free kick passed just above the goals of Ochoa (13th). In just 4 minutes, the Saudi rearguard knew some shivers against the Mexican attack, well defeated by the green doorman (23rd, 25th) and by Al-Ghannam (27th).
Unhappy Mexico
But while Al-Hassan missed his uncrossed header before the break with a parity score after the break (45 + 6th), Tata Martino’s men woke up after the second half engagement. On a corner deflected at the near post by Montes, Martín deceived the last opposing rampart on the other side of the surface (1-0, 48th), before Chávez sent a superb free kick in the top corner of Hervé Renard’s team (2-0, 53rd). Enough to kill the hope of Saudi supporters at the best of times. Lozano could have widened the gap in the wake of the break, but his goal was disallowed for offside at the start of the action (56th).
The chances were linked for the Verde (70th, 72nd, 78th), who had to score at least one goal to hope to overtake Poland and finish ahead of Poland, who remained second thanks to fair play. Mexico was denied a second goal for an illicit position by Antuna, who had nevertheless managed to win his face-to-face against Al-Owais (87th). Thanks to a goal at the very end of the match from their captain Al-Dawsari (2-1, 90+5th), coming quietly to deceive Ochoa following a fine one-two, Saudi Arabia, who finished last of pool Chad just showered Mexico’s chances of qualifying for the round of 16 of the competition a little more, despite its first success (2-1).