Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia
It wasn’t vintage, it wasn’t inspiring. Perhaps it was never going to be.
But it didn’t really matter if you were a World Cup 2018 fan of Uruguayan persuasion.
After two positive World Cup 2018 results, two victories, they are in the knockout stages of the competition yet again.
SBOBET reporters will tell you they haven’t played that well thus far. But after edging to another Group A win, this time in Rostov where the temperature was 36 degrees pitchside, World Cup 2018 betting odds will still be available on them when the tournament enters its third week.
Highlights of the game
In the end, the talk was all about a pre-match scare and a goalkeeping howler.
Saudi Arabia players and officials thankfully arrived safely in Rostov-On-Don, although not without a fright when the engine on their plane caught fire.
The incident didn’t quash their spirit but, in truth, they rarely looked to cause an upset in a match that will not live long in the memory.
They were inferior opposition to an Uruguay side which will need considerable improvement to progress but, realistically, have probably got more to come with the likes of Edinson Cavani, Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez, Martin Caceres and their match-winner in this one.
The goal that mattered came 23 minutes in when Luis Suárez, sent home in disgrace in 2014, became the first Uruguay player to score in three different World Cup tournaments after goals in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil four years ago.
That the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais – one of four changes from the side thrashed 5-0 by Russia in the competition opener – came off his line to try and claim a corner but got nowhere near the ball meant it was a gift for Barcelona man Suarez.
The Green Falcons, with manager Juan Antonio Pizzi’s job supposedly on the line, were behind again as Suarez tapped into an empty net from close range.
It was his 52nd goal for his country as he marked a special personal milestone in international football.
Perhaps we should have known from that moment that Saudi Arabi’s qualifying hopes were near an end.
They have never won a match at a World Cup finals in which they have conceded the first goal.
It was barely credible that, even in the closing stages, on the verge of exiting the tournament, Saudi Arabia rarely looked hurried and failed to press their opponents’ backline.
Uruguay were able to pass the ball around the back with ease at the Rostov Arena as they eased through to the knockout stage at a third consecutive World Cup.
Defeat confirmed Saudi Arabia’s elimination even if this was a much-improved showing from the Russia thumping; a defeat which prompted Pizzi to describe his ‘feeling of shame’.
Yet they rarely tested Fernando Muslera in the Uruguay goal.
Are the winners of the first-ever World Cup in 1930, and again in 1950, dark horses to reach the latter stages and then, who knows?
Time will tell.
As for this contest, it turned out to be just as predicted.
Key statistics
Uruguay have now won their opening two matches of a World Cup for the first time since 1954.
In winning his 100th cap for the national team, striker Luis Suarez became the sixth Uruguayan to reach that milestone.
The South Americans have never failed to get out of the group stage under respected manager Oscar Tabarez.
This was the eighth match which has ended 1-0 at the 2018 World Cup, equalling the total of 1-0 wins seen in the whole of the 2014 World Cup group stages.
This was Saudi Arabia’s 15th game at a World Cup but the first time they have ever faced South American opposition.
A 12-game winless run for the Green Falcons at the World Cup finals (D2, L10) now dates back 24 years to the 1994 tournament.
What’s next?
The title of winners of Group A will be up for grabs when Uruguay and Russia clash next Monday (June 25) at the Samara Area. With both nations now qualified, a draw would see Russia top the standings.
In reality, whichever nation finishes first or second faces a tough match in the last 16.
It’s almost certain European champions Portugal and Spain await both the winners and runners-up.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt contest the clash to avoid the wooden spoon at the Volgograd Arena at the same time. They will have only have pride to play for before they pack their bags and head home.
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