![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Al_Owais_1.jpeg?resize=1024%2C593&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs hopes grew, so did their presence in the final third. An Al-Amri volley, expertly saved by Muslera from an earlier set play, was a warning unheeded. A few minutes later the Al-Nassr centre back pounced quickest following a Mohammed Kanno header to ignite, what to that stage, was a drab opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gave the Saudis a foothold, something to build on, and confidence to attack further. The enemy for Giorgios Donis\u2019 men however, was time, as the first half quickly drained away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A response was always likely, but few were expecting the direct switch in attitude from the Uruguayans. Bielsa withdrew Darwin Nunez \u2013 the pantomime villain in waiting, desperate to prove his mark against the country he\u2019d failed to settle in since his move to Al-Hilal, in his place sending on Juan Sanabria and the particularly threatening Agustin Canobbio. A realisation of the stakes at play triggered a reaction from the Saudis also, albeit a more pragmatic one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wave after wave, Uruguay were back in a more familiar grove; forcing what had been a resolute and positive Saudi backline ever further back towards its own penalty area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As pressure continued, there was only one team in it. As Donis opted to send on Nasser Al-Dawsari for the now passenger Musab Al-Juwayr, the signal was clear: it was backs to wall for Saudi Arabia. As the clock frustrated Donis\u2019 men in the first period, it once again played foe in the second, providing clear blue water ahead of the Uruguayans to find a way back into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If anything, the inevitable equaliser from Maximilliano Araujo, broke Saudi out of their slumber; they needed to blink and attempt some fight, if they were to stave off defeat. Much of the talk pre-match focused on the Miracle of Lusail, as Saudi Arabia triumphed over World Cup champions Argentina in 2022; however, for many Saudi fans, the second period against Uruguay was more reminiscent of the frustrations felt in matches against Poland and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While fight, and a little more ambition followed, the motions were already set in stone, and the flow of traffic continued. But for Al-Owais, it would\u2019ve been over. His cool demeanour, and impressive agility clinched the keeper a second man of the match trophy, three and a half years on from his heroics against Messi and co.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final whistle was a moment of relief, if not necessarily joy, but the hours and days to come will offer a realisation of what has been achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lessons from Donis first competitive outing as Saudi coach will also develop over the coming days. Defensively, they were strong and unified; but yet again a lack of attacking forays was their principle downfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ball just didn\u2019t stick in the final third, even when space was afforded to them. That\u2019s the big concern. They had time in the first half to build up confidence and add to their lead. By missing that opportunity they handed the narrative to Uruguay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Earlier in the day, Cape Verde\u2019s historic draw with European champions Spain threw this group wide open; this draw just adds to the increasing unpredictability of this World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While some will point to their defensive steel shown in the closing stages, few will feel any sort of reassurance heading into a game against the wounded Spanish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Confidence, given the manner of Herve Renard\u2019s exit prior to the tournament, and the togetherness of a squad having hung onto a precious point, is surely regained for the Saudis; but do they have it in them to go one step further next week?<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Asia\u2019s miraculous unbeaten start to the World Cup continues, as Saudi Arabia turned expectations on their head to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Uruguay. It won\u2019t be one to look back on with misty eyes, but their second half rearguard defiance, led by an exceptional Mohammed Al-Owais between the posts, keeps them well positioned […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6286,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_gspb_post_css":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[94,512,51,499],"class_list":["post-6285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-analysis","tag-fifa-world-cup","tag-national-teams","tag-saudi-arabia","tag-world-cup-2026"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.theasiangame.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Musab.jpeg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1\")
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