Araújo Rescues Uruguay to Deny Another World Cup Heist by Saudi Arabia
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 16.06.26. | 03:14
Looking to channel the powers of four years ago, Saudi Arabia almost put another South American giant to the sword
Lightning rarely strikes twice, but inside the Miami Stadium, Saudi Arabia spent nearly forty minutes convincing the world they were about to pull off yet another jaw-dropping World Cup heist.
Four years after stunning Argentina in Lusail, the Green Falcons had Marcelo Bielsa’s star-studded Uruguay dead in their sights, holding a fragile 1–0 lead that set up a fascinating, high-stakes second-half chess match where one side was playing for history, and the other was fighting for survival.
A disciplined Saudi Arabia side completely disrupted Bielsa's blueprint at Miami Gardens stadium.
A masterful and compact 4-4-2 block from the Green Falcons, marshalled by Mohamed Kanno, thoroughly choked out Uruguay’s midfield engine.
Bielsa’s side , however, struck first in the 5th minute when Maximiliano Araújo cuttingly unleashed a powerful long-range effort that drew a firm save from Saudi keeper Mohammed Al-Owais.
Uruguay then went agonizingly close in the 30th minute, forcing Al-Owais into a spectacular reaction save to palm away a diving header from Viñas off a knock back by Maxi Araujo.
Saudi Arabia responded via dead-ball situations. In the 38th minute, a corner fell to Abdulelah Al-Amri at the far post, whose low side-footed drive was expertly kept out by a diving Fernando Muslera.
However, Muslera’s heroism turned to heartbreak just two minutes later. In the 41st minute, the Uruguayan shot-stopper fumbled a header from Said Abdulhamid, allowing the looming Al-Amri to aggressively pounce on the loose rebound and poke home, handing the clinical Green Falcons a shock lead before a chaotic stoppage-time period.
In the second half, Uruguay adjusted their shape at the break, looking to remedy a stagnant first half where Federico Valverde felt isolated on the right. Relentless pressing under the heavy Miami heat saw the South Americans begin to dominate possession, unlocking better attacking rhythm.
Saudi Arabia's defense, anchored by Al-Amri and Al Owais held firm for large stretches against heavy pressure. However, Bielsa’s tactical substitutions eventually cracked open the tactical block.
In the 80th minute, Uruguay’s most active attacking catalyst, Araújo, found the breakthrough.
He clinically fired past Saudi keeper Al-Owais , a rebound off another Vinas header in the box which was parried by the keeper, this saw Uruguay level the match at 1–1.
Saudi Arabia continued to survive a barrage of Uruguay attacks, seeing Al Owais pull of two more spectacular saves.
Following Spain’s surprising draw against Cape Verde earlier in the day, Group H remains entirely deadlocked with all four teams tied on one point.
The 1–1 draw leaves the qualification race wide open. Saudi Arabia proves once again they are built to frustrate global powerhouses, while Uruguay salvages pride but will feel they let three points slip.
WORLD CUP - GROUP STAGE
First round
Thursday, 11.06.
Mexico - South Africa 2-0 (1-0)
/Quinones 9, Jimenez 67/
Friday, 12. 06.
South Korea - Czech Republic 2-1 (0-0)
/Hwang In Beom 67, Oh Hyeon-Gyu 80 - Krejci 59/
Canada - B&H 1-1 (0-1)
/Larin 78 - Lukic 21/
Saturday, 13.06.
USA - Paraguay 4-1 (3-0)
/Bobadilla 7 og, Balogun 31, 45+5, Reyna 90+8 - Mauricio 73/
Qatar - Switzerland 1-1 (0-1)
/Khoukhi 90+4 - Embolo 17 pen/
Sunday, 14.06.
Brazil - Morocco 1-1 (1-1)
/Vinicius 42- Saibari 21/
Haiti 0-1 Scotland (0-1)
/McGinn 29/
Australia - Turkey 2-0 (1-0)
/Irankunda 27, Metcalfe 75/
Germany - Curacao 7-1 (3-1)
/Nmecha 6, Schlotterbeck 38, Havertz 45+3(p), 88, Musiala 47, Brown 68, Undav 78 - Comenencia 21/
Netherlands - Japan 2-1 (0-0)
/Van Dijk 51, Summerville 64 - Nakamura 57/
Monday, 15.06.
Ivory Coast - Ecuador 1-0 (0-0)
/Diallo 90/
Sweden - Tunisia 5-1 (2-1)
/Ayari 7, 90+6, Isak 30, Gyokeres , Svanberg 84 - Rekik 43/
Spain - Cabo Verde 0-0
Saudi Arabia- Uruguay ( 1-0)
/Amri 41/ - /Araujo 80/
Tuesday 16.06.
04.00: (1.95) Iran (3.35) N.Zealand (4.20)
22.00: (1.47) France (4.50) Senegal (6.75)
***odds are subject to change***