Saudi Arabia vs. Mexico

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Despite beating Saudi Arabia, Mexico missed out on a place in the last 16 to Poland on goal difference.

The two teams would have finished level on points, goal difference, goals scored, goals conceded and head-to-head record had Mexico and Poland played each other in the final.

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With Poland having a narrow edge on fair play points, Mexico had to keep pouring men forward in order to get a goal. Poland advanced because they were caught on the break by Saudi Arabia.

Mexico haven't been in the World Cup knockout stage since 1990 when they were banned from the tournament. El Tri did not make it out of the group stage in 1978.

Mexico had taken one point from their first two matches and needed a big win or help from Argentina or Poland to progress.

Mexico took the game to Saudi Arabia from start to finish, peppering the goal with long-range efforts in a desperate attempt to wrest control of their own fate.

It was too little and too late for Mexico.

Mexico exploded to life in spectacular fashion to start the second half after going goalless through their first 212 matches.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 47th minute when Henry Martin finished from close range after Cesar Montes put Mexico on the board.

There was pandemonium within five minutes. Mexico is within sight of the knockout stage after Luis Chavez sent a free kick into the top corner.

Mexico needed one more goal to progress after Argentina went 2-0 up.

They were close to achieving it multiple times. The goal was ruled out for being in violation of the rules. Martin dropped his head into his hands when he volleyed over the bar with the goal in sight.

When substitute Uriel Antuna broke clear behind the Saudi defense and applied the finish, there was more pain to come.

Salem al-Dawsari's goal gave Saudi Arabia the final blow to Mexico's hopes.

This report was made using information from the news agency.