Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Suwon: Saudi Arabia’s title aspirations came to an end at the FIFA U-20 World Cup on Wednesday after they were narrowly beaten 1-0 by Uruguay to exit the tournament at the Round of 16 stage.
With the Saudis looking to secure a spot in the last eight for a first time, it was Uruguay who began brightly, with both Joaquin Ardaiz and Nicolas Schiappacasse wasting chances to put their side ahead in the opening minutes.
That profligacy almost came back to haunt them as, having shown fleeting signs of threatening, Ayman Al Khulaif fired a fierce effort just inches wide to send the Uruguayans into half-time knowing they were well and truly in a contest.
It then took a stroke of luck to finally set the South American champions going. A handball in the box saw captain Nicolas de la Cruz gifted the chance to put them in front from the penalty spot and he made no mistake, thundering his effort home.
Try as they may, Saudi Arabia had no response, crashing out at the same stage as their last appearance at Colombia 2011.
Source: FIFA / Getty Images