Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico: El Tri’s World Cup ends with early exit despite victory

Luis Chavez swerved a searing free kick into the top corner of Saudi Arabia’s net and Gerardo Martino blew out his cheeks ran his fingers through his grey hair.

Mexico boss Martino has witnessed plenty during a life in football but this was a gesture to suggest he might not be able to stand much more of this.

His team had scored for the second time in five minutes at the start of the second half. The first tapped in from a corner by Henry Martin and, suddenly, they had a chance of qualifying for the last 16.

Mexico agonizingly bowed out of the World Cup, despite a 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia 

Henry Martin (center) tapped in to open the scoring just three minutes into the second half

Luis Chavez score a jaw-dropping free kick to double El Tri’s lead four minutes later

Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais could not save Chavez’s curling effort 

This had seemed an outrageous long shot at the start of the night but now it seemed they might score with every attack after enduring two-and-a-half games without finding the net.

They were going to require at least one more but there was more than half an hour to play and, across Doha, Argentina were helping by beating Poland 2-0. Hope surged through millions of Mexicans around the world and their team continued to pour forward.

Hirving Lozano thought he had the third when he burst clear to beat goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais only to find he was offside. Uriel Antuna also found the net only to be denied by an offside flag. Both correct decisions by Premier League referee Michael Oliver and his team of officials.

Hirving Lozano burst clear to beat the goalkeeper and found the back of the net

Lozano thought he had found Mexico’s coveted third but it was ruled off for offside

The Saudi goal was under siege. Owais warmed to his role and made saves, and Oliver stood firm under increasing desperate attempts to convince him to point to the penalty spot. Martin volleyed over a terrific chance. Chavez unleashed another free-kick, this time saved.

Poised like this, one more goal would have swung them past Poland into second place in Group C. One more for Argentina would have locked Poland and Mexico together and they would be counting yellow cards to see who would go through on the fair play ruling.

Then, in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the Saudis broke clear and Salem Al-Dawsari converted the goal to end the fightback. It had been a gallant 45 minutes but too little and far too late for Mexico. They were out in the group stage for the first time since 1978.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Salem Al-Dawsari converted the goal to end the fightback

For Saudi Arabia, it proved a case of too much too soon. They also bow out having lit up the first week of the tournament with a spectacular victory over Argentina.

Mexico came out firing. Chavez flashed one wide and Alexis Vega darted through onto goalkeeper Owais, who sped from his line to save and then pushed a dangerous cross from the head of Martin.

Chavez volleyed from 20 yards straight at ‘keeper Owais and Orbelin Pineda had three efforts from good positions, none of which threatened to find the net. This commitment made for an open and frantic contest.

Saudi ventured out rarely in the first half but when they did there was space to attack and they were roared forward by strong support in the stadium.

Mohamed Kanno fired a dipping shot over on the counter-attack and went closer with a free-kick, curled over the defensive wall but just too high, and they produced a flurry of adventure in stoppage time at the end of the first half, including an ambitious appeal for a penalty for a foul on Feras Al-Brikan.

Owais sped off his line to push away a dangerous header from Martin early on

Orbelin Pineda looked to have opened the scoring with a header but it ricocheted off defender

Mohamed Kanno went close with a free-kick, curled over the defensive wall but just too high

Saudi Arabia lost defender Ali Al-Bulayhi in the first half, another injury to trouble boss Herve Renard, who started the game without three injured players, including captain Salman Al-Faraj, and one suspended.

There was a positive update before kick-off, however, confirming defender Yasser al-Sharani had been discharged from hospital after two operations, eight days after the a collision with his own goalkeeper left him with serious facial injuries and internal bleeding, during the win over Argentina.

Resistance was broken early in the second half. Owais pushed a shot by Chavez shot out for a corner and from the set-piece Mexico opened the scoring. Cesar Montes flicked it on at the near post and Martin was first to react, turning it into the net from close range.

The Chavez curled in his free-kick to spark a frenzied ending. It was breathless entertainment but ultimately worth nothing for either team. They are both out of the World Cup.

Relive all the action from Mexico’s dramatic, and agonizing, 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in Group C with Sportsmail’s live blog…