Mexico struck twice in five minutes, and Saudi Arabia’s World Cup dream was done.
The conquerors of Argentina would ultimately have only that to show for Qatar 2022, a second successive Group C defeat consigning the Gulf side to the foot of the standings. Given what Herve Renard’s men have provided this past fortnight, it felt hugely unfair.
At least the trip home would be short. Yet painful, too.
The 2-1 loss at Lusail Stadium, which rumbled and raged on an expectant Wednesday night, meant there would no knockout spot for Saudi, a campaign that began with one of the great World Cup upsets concluding like too many before.
In six attempts at the tournament, a team from the kingdom have emerged from the groups only once. That venerated bunch from 1994 remain the sole entry in the record books.
Having shocked Argentina and then pushed Poland without breaking through, Saudi succumbed to their least impressive display right when they could not afford it.
Yes, they were ravaged by injury and suspension to key contributors, but they were ragged for the majority, Mexico that bit more willing and wily. The Central Americans needed a victory to stand any chance of progressing; ultimately, also for the perennial knockout participants, it was not to be.
Still, Mexico sealed the win in a blitz at the start of the second half. Henry Martin followed Cesar Montes’s flick-on from a corner and, as Saudi Arabia stood static, he bundled home from close range.
Minutes later, Luis Chavez curled a free-kick from 30 yards far beyond Mohammed Al Owais. One of the goals of the tournament thus far, there was nothing the Saudi goalkeeper could do.
Argentina 1 Saudi Arabia 2 - player ratings
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ARGENTINA RATINGS: Emiliano Martinez 5: Literally not a thing to do until picking ball out of net in 48th minute when Al Shehri’s finish found the bottom corner. Got hand to second goal but couldn’t keep Al Dawsari’s effort out. Getty -
Nahuel Molina 6: Atletico right-back was solid defensively but failed to offer team any width going forward. Getty -
Cristian Romero 4: Tottenham defender couldn’t stop Al Shehri scoring as Saudi attacker fired shot through his legs at start of second half to make it 1-1. Didn’t look fully fit and hooked before hour mark. EPA -
Nicolas Otamendi 6: Veteran centre-half repeatedly refused to accept a Saudi handshake after one first-half foul. Read danger well to stop opposition getting through on goal with well-timed sliding tackle just before break. Getty -
Nicolas Tagliafico 5: Lyon full-back found himself under a bit of pressure in first half as the Saudis found a bit of joy down his flank. Almost levelled after ball rebounded off his shin but keeper scrambled out for corner. Getty -
Rodrigo De Paul 4: Midfielder left apologising to teammates after gifting possession to Saudis in poor first half when he also gave away some cheap free-kicks and blasted chance spectacularly high over bar. Will be disappointed at how easily Al Shehri ghosted through for second goal and how team lost midfield battle in general. AFP -
Leandro Paredes 5: Juve midfielder was pulled down in box to earn side early penalty. Sprayed some lovely passes around but influence waned as match went on and substituted soon after Saudi’s second goal. AFP -
Alejandro Gomez 4: Blazed ambitious effort way over after 20 minutes which was extent of his attacking influence. Couldn’t get grip on midfield as Saudis pressured so well from start to finish. AP -
Angel Di Maria 6: Surprisingly quiet first when he failed to make any impact in game. Better after break with his crossing but Argentina failed to take advantage. One lovely pass with outside of foot almost found Martinez but opponents scrambled out for corner. AFP -
Lionel Messi 6: Should have scored very early goal but denied by decent keeper save. Did roll home penalty to open scoring after 10 minutes. Scored again after 22 minutes but caught offside. Sent poor free-kick wide and weak header straight at keeper in second half. Looked shell-shocked at end. EPA -
Lautaro Martinez 6: Striker twice finished confidently in first half but was caught offside for both – the first being incredibly tight but still right call. Non-existent as threat after break as Argentina failed to turn up for fight. AP -
SUBS: Lisandro Martinez (On for Romero 59’) 6: Saw shot that deflected off teammate Tagliafico saved by Al Owais. One wild back-pass looked like it might catch out Martinez but goalkeeper managed to control with chest. AP -
Julian Alvarez (On for Gomez 59’) 5: Manchester City attacker brought on as one of three subs as Argentina were forced to chase game. Had shot cleared off line in injury-time but off-side flag had gone up anyway. Headed very late chance gently into keeper’s hands. AP -
Enzo Fernandez (On for Paredes 59’) 5: Headed one chance well over bar from corner. Reuters -
Marcos Acuna (On for Tagliafico 71’) 5: Came on with team chasing game but substitute left-back was never going to be the answer to woes in midfield and up front. Reuters -
SAUDI ARABIA RATINGS: Mohammed Al Owais 8: Al Hilal goalkeeper saved well from Messi in second minute, sent the wrong way by same player from penalty soon after. Fine stop to deny Tagliafico from close range as Argentina chased leveller. Booked for venting at referee late on. AP -
Saud Abdulhamid 7: Handed Argentina early penalty after VAR spotted him hauling down Paredes in box. Both Saudi full-backs not afraid of pushing forward although final ball was sometimes lacking. Booked in second half when he was outstanding at helping keep opposition at bay. Getty -
Hassan Al Tambakti 9: At heart of Saudi defence that played dangerous game with very high line that worked, just, in first half as Argentina were denied three goals due to off-side. Magnificent sliding tackle on Messi with Argentina star nearly through on goal had defender cheering like a goal. Immense at the back. Reuters -
Ali Al Bulayhi 8: Threw himself into tackles and headers but was certainly playing risky business with that high defensive line. Booked for time-wasting with 15 minutes to go but another star showing in defence as the team’s tactics paid off – and in some style. Getty -
Yasser Al Shahrani 8: Had large Saudi contingent in stands on their feet with one sliding challenge to win ball in first half and was perfect example of effort his team put into this game. Took horrific knee to face off own keeper late on and had to be carried off. AFP -
Abdulellah Al Malki 7: Clumsy challenge on Gomez handed free-kick to Argentina in dangerous spot just before break, that ended with De Paul blazing chance well over. First booking of game for sliding tackle on Otamendi in 66th minute. Another who put in incredibly hard-working shift. Getty -
Mohamed Kanno 7: Showed some nice footwork at times, drawing some fouls from opposition, but was furious when referee awarded free-kick against him in dangerous spot for nothing challenge on Messi that the same player sent high and just wide. AFP -
Saleh Al Shehri 7: Excellent run and left-footed finish to level the scores just after half-time with what was his team’s first effort on goal to send crowd wild. AFP -
Salman Al Faraj 6: The Saudi captain picked up knock in the first half and tried desperately to run it off but eventually limped off just before break, receiving a healthy applause from around ground. Shame as had been playing part in keeping pressure on Argentina. AP -
Salem Al Dawsari 8: Saudi’s key attacker skipped between two players with one surging run just before half-time before going down in box looking for penalty – rightly ignored. Showed brilliant skill to earn himself space and curl home a lovely finish to put his team 2-1 up. AP -
Feras Al Brikan 6: Ran his socks off in attack and played his part for team ranked 51st in Fifa rankings, albeit without any goalscoring opportunities to speak of but provide assist for Al Shehri goal. Reuters -
SUBS: Nawaf Alabid (On for Al-Faraj 45+4’) 5: Had goal-bound strike blocked just before Saudi’s second goal. Booked in second half. Substituted himself – unclear if tactical or injury. Getty -
Sultan Al Ghannam (On for Al-Shehri 78’) N/A. Mohammed Alburayk (On for Nawaf 90+8’) N/A. AP
Al Owais had already stood strong in the first half, thwarting an advancing Alexis Vega as early as the third minute, as Saudi Arabia struggled to gain a foothold.
It did not help that they later lost Ali Al Bulaihi to injury, the defender joining an already lengthy list of important absentees. Oh, what Saudi could have done with captain Salman Al Faraj, or full-backs Yasser Al Shahrani and Mohammed Al Breik, or midfielder Abdulellah Al Malki. The latter, typically tenacious in protecting his backline, was suspended. He left a significant hole that Saudi failed to plug.
Two goals down, Saudi had to abandon all caution. But they could not conjure any clear-cut chances. Instead, it played into Mexican hands. Tato Martinez's team bounded forward on the break, but were often wasteful. They had two goals disallowed for offside. They really should have scored more.
It would have been harsh on Saudi Arabia, not necessarily for Wednesday’s effort but those initial two performances, when they shook the world and then picked at Poland.
In injury-time, Salem Al Dawsari concluded a brilliant move to pull one back, adding to his winner against Argentina.
However, it would not be enough. In the end, neither also for Mexico. Poland, beaten in the other group game by Argentina, snatched the runner-up slot. They advance to the last 16, alongside Lionel Messi's lot. Saudi, having dreamt of seizing their own slice of history, did not.
