WORLD CUP 2022 – Saudi Arabia-Mexico 1-2 report cards: Lozano gives everything but it’s not enough, Chavez snipes a free-kick

REPORT CARDS OF SAUDI ARABIA

Mohammed AL-OWAIS 6.5 – Fly between the posts on every ball that the Mexicans shoot on goal. In his own way, he puts on a show.

Abdulelah AL-AMRI 5.5 – In the trenches since kick-off, he held out for a while before falling completely at the mercy of the Mexicans

Hassan AL-TAMBAKTI 5.5 – Like most of the Arab team, he played a first half of great sacrifice and then suffered in the second half

Ali AL-BOLEAHI 6 – Leaves the field after less than 40 minutes due to an injury, good defensive performance for the time he was on the field (from 38′ Riyadh SHARAHILI 6 – enters and starts defending, like everyone else)

Saud ABDULHAMID 5.5 – Constantly struggling against the speed of the Mexicans, struggles tremendously throughout the game

Ali AL-HASSAN 6 – He plays once, and in that period he holds up well by acting as a barrier in midfield (from 46′ Abdullah MADU 5.5 – enters and starts playing a bit full-back and a bit midfielder, in constant difficulty against the Mexican wingers)

Mohamed KANNO 6 – In the first half he tries to play as an added striker but slowly withdraws until he is the last bulwark in front of the defense

Firas AL-BURAIKAN 6 – He has the merit of trying to threaten Ochoa in the first half with a header in Saudi Arabia’s only dangerous action before the goal

Sultan AL-GHANAM 6 – While all the rearguard teammates only think about not conceding goals, he at least tries some raids on the wing (from 88′ Hattan BAHEBRI 6- his assist for Al-Dawsari’s goal)

Salem AL-DAWSARI 6.5 – Saudi Arabia’s happiest note in these World Cups. He has only one opportunity to score and he takes full advantage of it. World more than positive

Saleh AL-SHEHRI 5 – He does very little in front, except falling to the ground with every slightest contact. Between missed stops and wasted time, he is replaced after 60 minutes (from 62′ Abdulrahman AL-ABOUD 5.5 – enters adapting to the general trend of the team: we get behind and suffer)

CT. Hervé RENARD 6 – A sufficient world championship, as we could expect from Saudi Arabia. The winning debut against Argentina got people talking about a team that accomplished something unrepeatable in that match. The technical limits of most of his interpreters came out in the remaining two games.

REPORT CARDS OF MEXICO

Guillermo OCHOA 6 – Remains inactive throughout the game, some reckless exit but it’s part of the character. He can do nothing about Al-Dawsari’s goal.

Jorge SANCHEZ 6.5 – He plows the band non-stop to push Mexico’s maneuver, he ends up knackered like all his teammates. He gave everything (from ’86’ Kevin ALVAREZ sv)

Cesar MONTES 6.5 – Assist for the opening goal, a quiet evening behind it given Saudi Arabia’s lack of offensive verve

Hector MORENO 5.5 – He gets distracted during Saudi Arabia’s goal in full stoppage time on the only action in which the opposing team is really dangerous. An irrelevant goal but which certifies a colossal carelessness

Miguel Angel GALLARDO 6 – Like Sanchez on the opposite side, he too pushes like a maniac to attack Saudi Arabia right away. He churns out many crosses, but none of them are really optimal

Luis CHAVEZ 7 – Find a splendid goal from a free-kick, try to surprise Al Owais again shortly after always from a set piece but this time the Saudi goalkeeper says no.

Orbelin PINEDA 6.5 – A top, in the first half comes out everywhere in the Saudi area but none of its conclusions are really head. He even comes close to a header, he who is one of the lowest on the pitch. (from 77′ Carlos RODRIGUEZ sv)

Edson ALVAREZ 6 – In the middle of the field is a dam, it keeps the Saudi players at bay even resorting to strong ways (from 86′ Rogelio FUNES MORI sv.)

Hirving LOZANO 6.5 – A perpetual motion, as the Neapolitan fans know well. I continue its attack on depth, it gradually fades away resulting in a lack of clarity in the finish.

Alexis VEGA 5.5 – You can see very little, also because Lozano plays the lion’s part on the opposite side. Martino changes it at halftime (from 46′ Uriel ANTUNA 5.5 – finds the goal offside, devours another by kicking badly)

Henry MRTIN 6.5 – Unlocks the match following an assist from Montes following a corner kick, the right reward for having participated in the constant pressure from Mexico throughout the match. He too devours the goal, confirming the scarce cynicism of all the Mexican forwards (from 77′ Raul JIMENEZ sv. – put in to take advantage of headers, a cross doesn’t arrive that is one. Is it his fault?)

Ct. Gerardo MARTINO 5 – Mexico’s World Cup rating: disappointing. Few shots, very few goals. A team that didn’t entertain and didn’t excite but was almost about to reach the second round. This certifies the strangeness of Group C.