Mexico suffered an agonizing 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.
"That's why we went for it," said Mexico coach Gerardo Martino.
"We knew Poland had fewer yellow cards and it was necessary at that moment because of the other result. "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 was much better than us," he added.
Having failed to win either of their first two group games for the first time in 44 years, Mexico knew victory was essential if they were to stand a chance of reaching the last 16 at an eighth successive World Cup.
- Tactical reshuffle - Martino ditched the back five he used in the 2-0 loss to Argentina and brought in Martin to lead the attack.
It almost reaped immediate rewards but Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais raced out to block Alexis Vega after he was slipped in behind the defence by Hirving Lozano. Al-Owais, one of the heroes of the 2-1 win over Argentina, tentatively palmed away a bouncing cross ahead of a lunging Martin and held weak attempts by Chavez and Orbelin Pineda.
Mohamed Kanno whipped a free-kick just over for Saudi Arabia, who saw defender Ali Al-Bulayhi forced off with injury -- adding to their mounting casualty list. Mexico continued to attack without success and Ali Al-Hassan nearly sent the bulk of the largely Saudi crowd wild late in the first half with a diving header that flashed wide of the far post. Chavez tested Al-Owais right after the interval and Martin soon broke the deadlock as he turned in from close range following Cesar Montes' clever flick-on at a corner. Mexico's second goal arrived just five minutes later when Chavez sensationally curled a free-kick into the top corner from 30 meters. Keeping an eye on the score between Argentina and Poland, Mexico pressed relentlessly for a third goal, with Lozano's effort ruled out for a tight offside. Martin blazed over when he had a glorious chance and Chavez had another free-kick turned away by Al-Owais, who also sprawled to his right to claw out a drive from Lozano. Uriel Antuna then had another goal disallowed for offside before Al-Dawsari's late strike. mw/jw COACH By Martyn WOOD
Lionel Messi's Argentina booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup on Wednesday with a 2-0 victory over Poland as Australia reached the knockout rounds for just the second time in their history. Two-time former champions Argentina advanced after goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Julian Alvarez sealed victory over Poland in Group C while Australia sent sorry Denmark crashing out with a 1-0 victory in Group D.
Argentina -- who suffered a stunning defeat to Saudi Arabia in their opening game -- ensured they qualified for the second round as group winners in a game in which captain Messi missed the 31st penalty of his career.
"We went out there thinking we had to win," said Messi, who added that missing his spot-kick had galvanized his teammates. "I'm angry at missing that penalty but the team came out stronger after my mistake," he said. "We knew that once the first goal went in it would change the game," Messi said Argentina, who will meet Australia in the next round, could not take progress to the quarter-finals for granted.
"The game against Australia will be difficult -- anyone can beat anyone," he added.
"It's very even. We have to prepare for the game in the best way, as always." The final round of games in Group C got underway with all four teams -- Argentina, Poland, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia -- in the hunt for the last 16. Despite losing to Argentina, Poland squeaked into second place, edging out Mexico -- 2-1 winners over Saudi Arabia -- on goal difference.
For long periods of a nail-biting evening, it looked as if Poland's tally of fewer yellow cards would secure their place in the last 16. But a goal in the fifth minute of injury time by Saudi Arabia's Salem Al-Dawsari against Mexico gave Poland a slender one-goal advantage on goal difference -- and a place in the second round. Saudi Arabia's defeat sealed a disappointing exit for the Asian minnows, who had electrified the opening days of the tournament with their shock opening win over Argentina. Poland will take on Group D winners France in their last 16 matches.
Australia reached the knockouts for the first time since the 2006 World Cup thanks to Mathew Leckie's superb 60th-minute goal that dispatched Denmark. A second-string France side -- already virtually assured of the top spot -- suffered a 1-0 loss to Tunisia. Australia coach Graham Arnold said he was "just so proud of the effort by the boys". "It was a short turnaround but their effort was incredible. A lot of belief, a lot of hard work," he added. "These boys came in with a great mindset. We've been working on this for four, four-and-a-half years about the belief, the energy and the focus. I could see in their eyes they were ready tonight." After two wins out of two, France were already assured of a place in the knockout round at kickoff so coach Didier Deschamps made nine changes to his starting line-up to play Tunisia, leaving stars including Kylian Mbappe among the substitutes.
Tunisia stunned the holders when captain Wahbi Khazri stretched to poke the ball past French goalkeeper Steve Mandanda in the 58th minute at the Education City Stadium. Deschamps responded by sending on five substitutes, including Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann. Tunisia stood firm but Griezmann finally had the ball in the net eight minutes into added-on time, driving in a shot through a crowd of defenders. But just when France thought they had salvaged a point, New Zealand referee Matthew Conger was called over to the VAR monitor and ruled the goal out for offside. The north Africans supporters counted down the final seconds to a famous victory over France that eased the pain of elimination. "They still had top-class players out there but we were superb and I think the result is down to us," Tunisia goalscorer Khazri said. "Unfortunately in football it is better not to have to rely on others for results, but we can go out with our heads held high."
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