Luis Chavez scored a wonderful free-kick as Mexico’s 2-1 win against Saudi Arabia was not enough to see them finish second in their World Cup group.
Mexico dominated the ball at the start of the game, enjoying 73 per cent possession in the opening 15 minutes.
The North American nation had 11 shots in the opening 45 minutes, which is the most they managed in a first half of a World Cup game since 1994.
Shortly after Argentina took the lead against Poland in the other Group C encounter, Mexico scored.
Henry Martin was unmarked in the six-year box following a flick-on from a corner by Cesar Montes.
Five minutes later Luis Chavez doubled the Mexico lead.
The Pachuca midfielder swung a long-range free-kick into the top corner in what could be the goal of the tournament so far.
Chavez came close from another free-kick, going to the goalkeeper’s right this time, but the effort was well saved this time.
Uriel Antuna thought he had put his nation into the last 16, but his late strike was ruled out for offside.
With seven minutes added on, Mexico threw everything at the Saudi defence to get the third goal to send them into the knockout stage of the tournament.
And with less than three minutes of injury time left, Saudi Arabia managed to make it 2-1.
After a tidy one-two on the edge of the box, Salem Aldawsari slotted past Guillermo Ochoa to do Poland a massive favour.
Mexico tried everything to get a third goal, but it wasn’t to be.
More to follow…
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