World Cup: Almost an upset! Uruguay's Araújo scores, dramatic draw with Saudi Arabia

Uruguay narrowly avoided an upset in their World Cup opener, securing a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia. The match saw the higher-ranked Uruguayans struggle against a determined Saudi side that had previously surprised Argentina.

Saudi Arabia, ranked 61st globally, took a surprising lead in the 41st minute. Abdulelah Al Amri scored after a scramble in the box, beating veteran Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. This goal came after Muslera made a crucial save on an earlier shot.

Uruguay, ranked 16th, made tactical changes at halftime, bringing on Agustín Canobbio and Juan Manuel Sanabria. The team pressed for an equalizer, with Manuel Ugarte hitting the post in the 59th minute. Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais, who sustained an injury during the match, made several key saves.

The breakthrough for Uruguay came in the 80th minute. After Federico Viñas's header was saved by Al Owais, Maximiliano Araújo pounced on the rebound to score, leveling the match. Despite 29 shots and 11 on target, Uruguay could not find a winning goal, with Al Owais making a final crucial save in stoppage time against Federico Valverde.