Everything seemed to be going Mexico’s way on Wednesday as it needed a win and some help to advance in the 2022 World Cup. But it fell one goal short.
Mexico defeated Saudi Arabia 2-1, but combined with Argentina’s 2-0 win over Poland, El Tri has been eliminated on goal differential, the first tiebreaker, after Mexico and Poland both finished with four points in Group C.
Poland earned second place over Mexico because its goal differential was zero; Mexico’s was -1.
Saudi Arabia scored in the fifth minute of stoppage time, at the very least saving Mexico the indignity of being eliminated on the fourth tiebreaker, “fair play.”
Before Saudi Arabia’s goal, Mexico and Poland were tied on goal differential, total goals scored and head-to-head match. Because Poland took fewer yellow cards during the group stage, they still would’ve advance to the Round of 16, so Mexico needed a third goal regardless of Saudi Arabia’s late strike. Mexico thought it had a third goal in the 87th minute that would have gotten them through, but an offside call took the goal off the board.
Mexico had reached the Round of 16 in each of the previous seven World Cups. Poland has reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Argentina won the group despite taking a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its opening match. It defeated Mexico 2-0 before Wednesday’s win over Poland. Saudi Arabia lost to Poland 2-0 before its loss to Mexico eliminated them from the tournament.