World Cup highlights Argentina and Poland advance; Mexico eliminated

Argentina entered its Group C finale against Poland needing a win, and it earned an emphatic one, defeating Poland, 2-0. The win propels Argentina into the knockout round, where it will be joined by Poland, which will advance by the slimmest margins despite its loss.

Argentina, which opened this World Cup with a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia, ends group play atop its quartet. Level with Mexico on goals scored and goal differential until late, Poland was set to advance on fair play points, having recorded five yellow cards to Mexico’s seven in the group stage until Mexico allowed a late goal in its match against Saudi Arabia.

Argentina will face Australia in the round of 16 on Saturday. Poland will face France on Sunday.

Salem al-Dawsari put Saudi Arabia on the board late, capping a give-and-go with a calm finish past Guillermo Ochoa in second-half stoppage time. That cut the Mexico lead to 2-1 but still left El Tri still one goal away from advancing.

GOAL: Saudi Arabia likely has ended Mexico’s hopes for advancement with a 95th-minute goal by Salem al-Dawsari. It’s 2-1, Mexico.

We’ll have seven minutes of stoppage time, at least, in the Mexico-Saudi Arabia match. In the first real action of that extended period, Mexico’s free kick is right at Mohammed Alowais and parried away.

With goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny out of position, Jakub Kiwior just saved Poland’s knockout stage hopes in the 92nd minute by heading a deflected shot by Nicolás Tagliafico off the line. Poland is hanging on by a thread.

There will be at least six minutes of stoppage time in Poland-Argentina. If these results hold, Poland would advance to the knockout stage for the first time since 1986 via the fair-play points tiebreaker. That could all change with another Argentina goal or a Mexico goal in Group C’s other finale.

Unbelievable drama: Mexico thought it had the goal it needed to advance, as sub Uriel Antuna got behind the Saudi Arabia back line and slots it home. But the goal is ruled out for offside, and replays show it’s clearly the correct call.

Argentina had another glorious chance in the 86th minute, but Lautaro Martínez mishit his shot from the right side and it rolled wide of the left post. Two minutes earlier, Poland’s Krzysztof Piatek came on for Grzegorz Krychowiak and Argentina’s Thiago Almada came on for Alexis Mac Allister. Those are the final substitutes of the match.

Mexico gets a free kick at the top of the box, and Luis Chávez kicks the flicked-on ball into the Saudi wall in the 83rd minute.

Mexico makes two subs in the 77th minute as it chases the goal that would send it through: Carlos Alberto Rodríguez and Raúl Jiménez come on for Orbelín Pineda and Henry Martín. Seconds later, Mexico nearly gets its third as Saudi Arabia scrambles to defend with goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais out of net, but the goal doesn’t come.

Poland’s Grzegorz Krychowiak was issued a yellow card in the 78th minute, which is more important than usual with the possibility of fair-play points determining who advances. Poland still has the advantage over Mexico in that department, but the gap is now two. Poland could breathe a little easier if it manages to score in the final 10 minutes.