{"id":5584,"date":"2026-06-16T10:41:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T10:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/sports\/uruguay-frustrated-by-dogged-saudi-arabia-in-world-cup-draw-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2026-06-16T10:41:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T10:41:34","slug":"uruguay-frustrated-by-dogged-saudi-arabia-in-world-cup-draw-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/sports\/uruguay-frustrated-by-dogged-saudi-arabia-in-world-cup-draw-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Uruguay frustrated by dogged Saudi Arabia in World Cup draw | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owaisclears the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group H match. Photo: AFP <\/p>\n

\n
\n LONDON: <\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Uruguay dominated but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in the sweltering heat of Miami on Monday to leave an intriguing Group H wide open.<\/p>\n

The stalemate came hours after one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history when European champions Spain were held 0-0 by debutants Cape Verde in the same group.<\/p>\n

After the first round of games in the pool all four teams have one point.<\/p>\n

Defender\u00a0Abdulelah\u00a0al-Amri\u00a0gave the Saudis a surprise lead near the end of the first half only for Uruguay’s second-half pressure to pay off with 10 minutes left through Maxi Araujo.<\/p>\n

Marcelo\u00a0Bielsa’s\u00a0Uruguay racked up 22 shots in the second period but the Saudi\u00a0defence\u00a0and goalkeeper Mohammed al-Owais\u00a0doggedly held firm.<\/p>\n

“We should have won this match,” said the\u00a0colourful\u00a0Argentine\u00a0Bielsa, whose side play Cape Verde next.<\/p>\n

“We weren’t able to show the best version of ourselves,” he added, admitting that his side only got going in the second half.<\/p>\n

Uruguay, World Cup winners in 1930 and 1950, saw their arrival in the United States from Mexico delayed by a snag with the paperwork for their plane.<\/p>\n

In evening temperatures of more than 30C and energy-sapping humidity, both teams struggled to create much in front of goal early on.<\/p>\n

Just after the half-hour mark the Saudi stopper\u00a0Owais\u00a0was called into action for a second time to parry a diving header from close range by Federico\u00a0Vinas.<\/p>\n

The Saudis, who stunned eventual champions Argentina 2-1 to start their campaign at the Qatar 2022 World Cup, looked to hit their opponents on the break.<\/p>\n

They had their first real opportunity shortly before half-time when\u00a0Amri\u00a0forced Fernando\u00a0Muslera\u00a0to palm away his fizzing shot.<\/p>\n

Four minutes before the break the defender did score, reacting fastest to poke home from close range after\u00a0Muslera\u00a0spilled a header from a corner.<\/p>\n

Uruguay finally come to life\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a toothless first period,\u00a0Bielsa\u00a0had seen enough, dragging off defender Matias\u00a0Vina\u00a0and anonymous former Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez.<\/p>\n

Winger Agustin\u00a0Canobbio\u00a0and left-sided Juan Manuel\u00a0Sanabriawere introduced.<\/p>\n

The double substitution sparked Uruguay — who surprisingly did not play a single World Cup warm-up game — into lift.<\/p>\n

Saudi coach Georgios\u00a0Donis, brought in just two months before the tournament, saw his team retreat farther and farther back.<\/p>\n

On the hour Manchester United midfielder Manuel\u00a0Ugartepinged the ball against the foot of the Saudi post from well outside the box.<\/p>\n

The pressure finally told late on when\u00a0Owais\u00a0made a mess of a routine stop and Araujo gobbled up the rebound.<\/p>\n

There looked to be only one winner after that, but Saudi Arabia just about held on for a vital point<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n


\n
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Saudi Arabia’s goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owaisclears the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group H match. Photo: AFP LONDON: Uruguay dominated but had to settle for a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in the sweltering heat of Miami on Monday to leave an intriguing Group H wide open. The stalemate came hours after one of the…<\/p>\n

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