Saudi Arabia repeats World Cup upset, drawing with Uruguay

Saudi Arabia delivered another World Cup shock, drawing 1-1 with Uruguay in a match that echoed their famous 2022 victory over eventual champions Argentina. The Green Falcons, ranked 60th by FIFA and 42 places below Uruguay, proved resilient against a favored South American side. Uruguay, led by veteran coach Marcelo Bielsa, started with 40-year-old goalkeeper Muslera in place of the in-form Rochet. Muslera, making his fifth World Cup appearance, became the unintended catalyst for Saudi Arabia's goal in the 41st minute. A seemingly routine header from a corner kick was fumbled by Muslera, allowing Al-Amri to tap in the rebound. Despite the setback and a generally uninspired performance from their attack, including a disappointing outing for Darwin Nunez, Uruguay rallied in the second half. Coach Bielsa's substitutions injected new life into the team, but they were repeatedly thwarted by the exceptional performance of Saudi Arabia's goalkeeper Al-Owais. He made nine saves throughout the match, denying Uruguay numerous opportunities. Al-Owais's only blemish came in the 80th minute when Araujo scored the equalizer from a rebound. However, he continued to make crucial saves, including a spectacular long-range effort from Valverde, to preserve the draw. Al-Owais was named the best player on the field with a rating of 7.7. The 1-1 result leaves Group H wide open, with all four teams starting with one point.

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But at 40 years old, Muslera's reflexes are much weaker than before. He became Uruguay's sinner when he made a mistake leading to the first goal.