Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
IT’S TIME TO SAY TATA TO MEXICO
BRUTAL for the Saudis, heartbreaking for Mexico.
Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino’s Mexico side grabbed the win, but not the extra goals that would have seen them through to the knockout stage at Poland’s expense.
Robert Lewandowski and his men went through on goal difference to leave the Mexicans wondering what might have been.
A poacher’s finish from forward Henry Martin, two minutes after half-time, and a vicious 30-yard free-kick from midfielder Luis Chavez – his first international goal – smashed the Saudi Arabia fairytale to pieces.
They had blown their big chance on Saturday when they surrendered to
Poland, failing to take advantage of their opponent’s fragile confidence back then.
Here the Saudis were second best throughout.
Herve Renard’s team leave only with memories of their monster upset over Argentina last week – and his pristine white shirts on the touchline. If the Saudis are to return, both he and his team will need to focus on their lack of composure in the final third.
Saudi Arabia were never going to deny Mexico here.
Especially with their keeper Mohammed Al Owais forgetting how to catch after a fine first-half display.
From one of his many needless parries, two minutes into the second half, Mexico sent in a corner.
Defender Cesar Montes flicked the ball on and Martin scored the opening goal.
Five minutes later, Al Owais was slow to react as Chavez smashed in his country’s stunning second. From then on it was a race to grab that third goal – with the Poles losing 2-0 to Argentina – that would have sent Mexico through.
Martin could have done it, unmarked, from a free-kick, but blasted his effort over the bar when he should have scored.
Chavez (below) thought he had got the goal that his country needed with 18 minutes left, but his sizzling free-kick was parried again by Saudi keeper Al Owais.
And then it was agony for winger Uriel Antuna, who thought he had grabbed a precious third goal for Mexico with four minutes left, sliding the ball under Al Owais.
But he had strayed offside.
Instead, Salem Al Dawsari played a one-two with Saudi sub Hatan Bahabri and broke hearts the length and breadth of Mexico by powering the ball past keeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Regrets? After this, both sides will have a few.