Saudi Arabia vs Mexico 1-2: World Cup 2022 – as it happened
All the updates from the World Cup 2022 match between Saudi Arabia and Mexico at Lusail Stadium.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates from Saudi Arabia vs Mexico in World Cup Group C on Wednesday, November 30.
This blog is now closed, thanks for joining us. These were the updates from Saudi Arabia vs Mexico in World Cup Group C on Wednesday, November 30.
- Saudi Arabia XI: Mohamed Al-Owais, Sultan Al-Ghanam, Abdulelah Al-Amri, Ali Al-Bulayahi (Riyadh Sharahili, 37′), Hassan Tambakti, Mohamed Kanno, Saud Abdulhamid, Ali Al-Hassan (Abdullah Madu. 46′), Saleh Al-Shehri (Abdulrahman Alobud, 62′), Salem Al-Dawsari, Firas Al-Buraikan.
- Mexico XI: Guillermo Ochoa, Cesar Montes, Edson Alvarez, Alexis Vega (Uriel Antuna, 46′), Hector Moreno, Orbelin Pineda (Carlos Rodriguez, 77′), Jorge Sanchez, Henry Martin (Raul Jimenez, 77′), Hirving Lozano, Jesus Gallardo, Luis Chavez.
- Saudi Arabia looking to reach knockouts for the first time since 1994.
- The last time Mexico failed to progress from the group stage was in 1982.
- Mexico must win to have any chance of staying in the competition.
- Saudi Arabia and Mexico have faced each other five times since their first meeting in 1995.
- Live updates
- Match stats
- Lineups
That’s all from us
What a set of games we’ve had in Group C tonight.
Here are the Round of 16 fixtures that have been confirmed:
Argentina vs Australia – December 3
Netherlands vs USA — December 3
England vs Senegal — December 4
France vs Poland – December 4
We’ll be back tomorrow for more World Cup action.
Arab world backing Morocco now
Saad from Jeddah said he was disappointed that three out of four Arab teams were now out.’I’m praying Morocco qualifies … everyone in the Arab and Muslim world will be hoping for that,” the 23 year old said.
No celebrations
Both sets of fans are intently looking to exit the stadium as quickly as possible. Some are loitering around, contemplating presumably their team’s failure to qualify from the group stages.
Sierra Rodriguez, when asked about how she feels, just puts her hands up in exasperation.
“We were so close … I feel terrible … but in the end, the mathematics was not on our side,” the 27 year Master’s student from Chihuahua said.
“I hate that we have to wait for another four years … at least some of it will be in Mexico … for now that’s all I can look forward to,” she said, distracted on her phone looking for an Uber to call.
Won the battle, lost the war
It’s the first time since 1978 that Mexico haven’t made it out of the group stages of a World Cup.
How are you feeling Mexico fans?
EVERY MEXICO FAN RIGHT NOW pic.twitter.com/AuCHQGzlei
— Roberto Rojas (@RobertoRojas97) November 30, 2022
When there’s a will, there’s ‘Owais’
Mohammed Al-Owais’ game by numbers vs. Mexico:
62 touches
9 long balls completed
8 saves
4 clearances
3 punches
2/2 successful sweeps
2/2 aerial duels won
2/2 ground duels won
2 goals conceded
1 high claimMexico could’ve had a lot more. 🧤 pic.twitter.com/zsFR2mM14H
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) November 30, 2022
‘Painful’ not to qualify
Victor Hernandez, who travelled from Mexico City for the tournament, wishes El Tri had shown the same intensity in their previous matches as they did today.
“This victory unfortunately doesn’t mean anything now … they should have performed like this the whole tournament,” the 43-year-old businessman said.
“It very painful to not qualify for the first time like 8 tournaments or something to Round of 16 … but it’s only football,” he added.
Chavez > Richarlison?
That free kick by Chavez is the goal of the tournament and I'm betting on the fact that it will stay that way by the 19th of December.
— Kaustubh Pandey (@Kaus_Pandey17) November 30, 2022
‘Very bad defending’ – Saudi fan
Green Falcons supporter Mazen from Abha, shaking his head, says that last goal came way too late, despite it sending the Saudi fans in a frenzy.
“Its like they were just looking to draw the game … at least from how they played. Defending was very bad.. After winning against Argentina they got too confident or something … they never did well,” the 34-year old teacher said.
Nevertheless he said he will be here in Doha until the final. “In one way its good … I can now focus on just having fun.”
Heartbreak for Mexico
Poland celebrate after the final whistle goes at Lusail Stadium. They progress on goal difference at the expense of Mexico despite tonight’s 2-0 loss to Argentina pic.twitter.com/c2OWLnzNEB
— Simon Peach (@SimonPeach) November 30, 2022
Fulltime!
Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
Mexico are out! A valiant effort but it ultimately ends in heartbreak.
Mexico need one goal here!
A goal will put them through on goals scored. It’s frantic here!
90+7 mins: Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
GOAL
Al Dawsari scores for Saudi Arabia.
Mexico have been pressing hard for a third goal, leaving gaps at the back, and Saudi Arabia catches them out. Al Dawsari played through and slotted home.
90+5 mins: Saudi Arabia 1-2 Mexico
Lozano shoots over
Time running out for Mexico.
90+3 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Mexico pressing on
Five minutes left.
90+2 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Free kick for Mexico
Lozano’s free kick is saved!
90+2 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
7 minutes of added time
It’s not over yet.
90 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Changes for both sides
Edson Alvarez and Jorge Sanchez are off for Mexico. Funes Mori and Kevin Alvarez come on.
Alganham is off for Saudi and Hattan Bahebri comes on.
88 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Goal disallowed
Antuna’s goal is chalked off for offside.
88 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Blocked
The wall blocks Chavez’s shot and Saudi break down the other end but it comes to nothing. Eight minutes of normal time left for Mexico to find their third.
82 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Free kick in a great position
Lozano breaks free through the defence but he’s brought down on the edge of the box. Free kick in a great position for Mexico.
80 mins: Suadi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Another chance
Pineda finds space on the edge of the box but his shot goes just wide of the post. It’s his last action of the game – he’s replaced by Carlos Rodriguez. Raul Jimenez has come on for Henry Martin here, too.
78 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Mexico can believe again
Chavez almost has his second
Chavez’s free kick is well saved by Al Owais. That was going in. Mexico are suffocating Saudi here.
73 mins: Saudi Arabia 0-2 Mexico
Argentina double lead against Poland
It’s getting very interesting, and a bit confusing, in Group C!
Argentina have doubled their lead against Poland with a 67th-minute goal from Julian Alvarez, boosting Mexico’s chances of qualification.
Mexico and Poland now have the same number of points, the same goal record, and they drew in their head-to-head game.
But the Europeans are currently hanging on to second place by virtue of their better fair play record, as in fewer yellow cards. As things stand, Poland will qualify for the last 16.
A huge 20 minutes coming up in both matches.