Uruguay salvages 1-1 draw with underdog Saudi Arabia thanks to 80th-minute goal

For 80 minutes Monday, Saudi Arabia was on the verge of a massive upset of Uruguay in their opening game of World Cup play. Uruguay scored late to salvage a 1-1 draw in what still stands as a significant upset in Group H.

Uruguay controlled the ball for most of the game and virtually the entire second half. But Saudi goaltender Mohammed Al-Owais played a masterful game and kept Uruguay off the board until the game's 80th minute.

Maxi Araújo scored off a rebounded header to finally get the ball past Al-Owais and ensure Uruguay wouldn't come away with zero points in their first game of Group H play.

The shot matched a first-half goal from Abdulelah Al Amri that kept Saudi Arabia in control of the scoreboard for most of the game.
Saudis strike first; Al-Owais keeps Uruguay at bay

Saudi Arabia entered the game as a significant underdog, then outplayed Uruguay for the first half of play. Uruguay controlled the ball early, but failed to get multiple shots on goal past Al-Owais.

Al-Owais delivered with one of the best saves of early World Cup action, stopping a diving header from Federico Viñas in the 30th minute to maintain a scoreless tie.

From there, a penalty on Uruguay's Darwin Núñez for contact with Al-Owais allowed Saudi Arabia to take control of the ball.

The Saudis responded with three quick shots in succession from set pieces. Fernando Muslera stopped the first two. But the third resulted in Abdulelah Al-Amri finding the back of the net to give the Saudis a 1-0 lead that stood at halftime.

Uruguay came out of the break and dominated the ball, at one point holding a 15-0 advantage in second-half shots. But until Araújo's goal in the 80th minute, La Celeste couldn't capitalize or solve Al-Owais.

Uruguay finished with possession of the ball for a full two-thirds of the game. It also secured a 10-3 advantage in shots on goal.

But Al-Amri's early goal and Al-Owais' stellar play in goal that featured nine saves ensured that Saudi Arabia would come away with an upset draw.

After Cape Verde delivered a stunning scoreless draw against powerhouse Spain earlier Monday, each team in Group H comes away with one point in the standings from their first day of play. Next up, Spain will face Saudi Arabia and Uruguay will take on Cape Verde on Sunday, with all four teams still searching for their first World Cup victory after the opening-round draws.