Both sides had a chance to go into the quarters. Mexico could
live with a draw, the Saudis needed to win. The unlikely event of a Saudi
victory seemed far more plausible after the Arabians had a dream start 
to open the scoring after only 5 minutes.
	A cross from a corner kick was put past the stranded keeper, Sanchez,
with a flying header from the Saudi captain Al Takrouni. Mexico sensed danger
and immediately pressed harder to regain the lead and pushed the Saudi defence
to the limit. Hussein Al Sadig again showing how much goalkeeping talent
there is in this tournament.
	To their credit the Saudis held out until half time and a quick break
led to an attempted lob by Nasser Al Gahtani. He was off balance at the time
and that may well have been the only factor which saved Mexico on that 
occasion. The Saudis were unlucky to concede their first goal when there was
an offside decision waved on by the referee. The Mexicans through Jose Garcia
were deemed offside by the linesman but the referee waved play on and in the
confusion Garcia's shot rebounded off the upright and Luis Salazar was present
to put the ball into goal. I think the Saudis were hard done by but rules are
rules and the referee is free to do what he did. He is also allowed to call
full time just before the ball sails into the net at 89 minutes but it really
is considered bad form. The Saudis had oppertunity to restore the lead. Most
notably when a corner was kicked towards, but wide of goal by Takrouni and
evaded the outstretched leg of Al Gahtani by mere centimetres. In their
efforts to win and seal a quarter final spot Saudi Arabia were caught out when
Jesus Olalde passed to Garcia who broke free and a mix up in the defence
gave Luis Salazar the simplest of tap ins. Al Dosari had a good oppertunity
to restore a level scoreline but Oswaldo Sanchez held firm in goal to turn
the ball behind. The Mexicans too had a late oppertunity in which the Saudi
keeper Al Sadig injured himself. The result was perhaps expected but the
manner certainly not. 

	Mexico 2 (L Salazar 61, 72) - Saudi Arabia 1 (A Al Takrouni 5)