Mexico beat Saudi Arabia, 2-1, in their World Cup match, but it wasn’t enough. The team was eliminated due to goal differential after Argentina’s 2-0 win over Poland.
Poland’s players, exhausted and nervous, gathered on the pitch after the final whistle around a coach with a screen. They had just lost 2-0 to Argentina, and their World Cup fate was unfolding in the palm of their coach’s hand.
“It was dreadful, awful, and wonderful,” Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny said. “The game lasted about five hours for me.” The strangest part is that the evening could have been even wilder. Only Saudi’s late goal averted the chaotic scenario of a team being eliminated from the World Cup on one of the most arcane tiebreakers in sports: accumulated yellow cards.
“We should have a little more common sense, and think that it is just a football game,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “The truth is, I don’t share the feeling that you are playing something more than a game. And that’s what the players feel when they go out on the pitch.” That said, they weren’t through yet either. Heading into Wednesday night, all four teams had a clear way into the knockout stage—and a similarly clear path home.
For the Mexicans, though, extending their streak of Round of 16 appearances required more than a win. In order to surpass Poland on tiebreakers, Mexico had to improve its goal differential. That meant scoring more goals—or Poland conceding more. So it was a boost when Luis Chavez made it 2-0 Mexico in the 52nd minute, and when Argentina netted another in the 67th.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
World Cup 2022: U.S. advances in World Cup after beating Iran 1-0The United States has advanced to the knockout round in the 2022 World Cup after defeating Iran 1-0.
Read more »
Mexico eliminated from World Cup on goal difference despite 2-1 win over Saudi ArabiaHenry Martin and Luis Chaves each scored in Mexico's furious attempt to stay alive at the World Cup, but the win over Saudi Arabia was not enough.
Read more »
World Cup: Mexico beats Saudia Arabia, but comes up painfully short of advancingMexico’s furious attempt to stay alive ended when Saudi Arabia scored in stoppage time.
Read more »
Mexico beats Saudi Arabia 2-1 but falls short at World CupHenry Martin and Luis Chaves scored a goal each in Mexico’s furious attempt to stay alive at the World Cup but the 2-1 victory over Saudi Arabia was not enough.
Read more »
Mexico eliminated from World Cup on goal difference despite 2-1 win over Saudi ArabiaHenry Martin and Luis Chaves each scored in Mexico's furious attempt to stay alive at the World Cup, but the win over Saudi Arabia was not enough.
Read more »
Mexico eliminated from World Cup on goal difference despite 2-1 win over Saudi ArabiaHenry Martin and Luis Chaves each scored in Mexico's furious attempt to stay alive at the World Cup, but the win over Saudi Arabia was not enough.
Read more »