Uruguay narrowly avoided a stunning World Cup upset Monday in Miami, as winger Maxi Araujo scored a late equalizer to earn his side a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in their Group H opener.
The result kept Uruguay from suffering the kind of shock that Saudi Arabia famously delivered in 2022, when the Saudis knocked off Argentina 2-1 in the tournament’s opening round. This time, an Abdulelah Alamri goal in the 41st minute had Saudi Arabia on course for another historic win — until Araujo stepped up with just 10 minutes remaining to level the score.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa made no attempt to hide his disappointment after the final whistle, particularly given that European champions Spain had also failed to win earlier in the day, drawing goalless with Cape Verde in the same group.
“An opponent we should have beaten; we gave away minutes in the first half that suggests we didn’t do things right,” Bielsa said. “We had to win this match.”
For Saudi Arabia, the draw was a cause for optimism. Their goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais was the difference-maker, making a series of crucial saves to preserve the point. The result gives the Saudis hope they can reach the knockout stage for the first time since the United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994.
Saudi coach Georgios Donis praised his players’ effort while acknowledging room for improvement. “We were very tired at the end, but to play this type of game with this opponent and to get a point, it’s a positive for us,” he said. “I like the spirit and the passion of my players but I think we have the quality to play better.”
Uruguay, who won the World Cup in both 1930 and 1950, came out of the gate looking like the favorites they were expected to be. In just the fifth minute, Araujo turned near the edge of the penalty area and fired a shot that Alowais managed to push away. Federico Vinas also threatened with a diving header around the half-hour mark, which Alowais again deflected to safety.
Despite those early chances, Uruguay was inconsistent going forward and at times looked careless in their own defensive third.
Saudi Arabia’s attack came to life in the 36th minute when left back Moteb Alharbi drove through midfield before being brought down roughly about 30 meters from goal. Two minutes later, Alamri tested Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera with a shot from the center of the box, which Muslera saved.
The Saudis broke through shortly after when Mohamed Kanno met a corner kick from Musab Aljuwayr. Muslera stopped Kanno’s powerful header, but Alamri was right there to tap the rebound into the net and put Saudi Arabia ahead 1-0 going into halftime.
Bielsa made two substitutions at the break, and Uruguay’s play became noticeably more organized in the second half. The team began getting the ball wide and delivering crosses into the box, creating a series of aerial challenges for Alowais to deal with.
Defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte came agonizingly close to tying the score in the 60th minute, drilling a shot that beat Alowais but bounced off the far post.
The equalizer finally came with 10 minutes left in regulation. Vinas, who had been Uruguay’s most dangerous aerial presence all match, got his head on a ball and Alowais made yet another save — but the rebound dropped directly to Araujo, who controlled it cleanly and clipped it into the net at the near post to make it 1-1.
Uruguay pushed hard for a winner in a chaotic final stretch, with Federico Valverde and Jose Maria Gimenez both unleashing powerful shots from the edges of the box that Alowais pushed wide.
Vinas reflected on the nerves that seemed to affect his side throughout the match. “I think the nerves of the debut worked against us, as did the need to go out and score,” he said. “In the second half we did a bit more of what the manager wanted. I’m frustrated and angry, but as captain I’m happy with my teammates’ work.”
