ROSTOV-ON-DON, June 20: Uruguay booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage along with Russia today, as Luis Suarez scored the winner on his 100th international appearance in a 1-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Rostov-on-Don.
The South Americans take on the hosts in their final Group A match on June 25 with top spot on the line, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been eliminated after both suffered back-to-back defeats. Russia and Uruguay will face one of the top two from Group B in the last 16 � either Portugal, Spain or Iran. The 31-year-old Suarez, whose previous two World Cups both ended in bans after his infamous 2010 handball against Ghana and bite on Italy�s Giorgio Chiellini four years later, took advantage of a goalkeeping error by Mohammed Al-Owais to put Uruguay ahead midway through the first half.
Oscar Tabarez�s side missed plenty of opportunities to add further goals, but a toothless Saudi outfit never seriously looked like snatching a point. Uruguay, semi-finalists eight years ago in South Africa, have now reached the knockout stage for the third straight time, while Saudi Arabia will try again in their search for a first World Cup win since 1994 in their final game against Mohamed Salah�s Egypt. Suarez made a bright start, looking to make amends for his poor performance in the opening 1-0 win against Egypt, firing a left-footed volley from Cristian Rodriguez�s knockdown which was blocked by Ali Al-Bulayhi. The Saudis managed to have plenty of early possession, although without looking overly threatening, only to gift Uruguay a 23rd-minute lead.
Al-Owais � winning only his second cap after replacing Abdullah Al-Muaiouf in goal � completely missed a floated Carlos Sanchez corner and Suarez tapped in his 52nd international goal unmarked at the back post. That strike was Suarez�s sixth World Cup goal and made him the first Uruguayan to score in three separate finals. Juan Antonio Pizzi�s Saudi Arabia continued to look far more assured on the ball than they did in the 5-0 drubbing by Russia on the opening day of the tournament, with Hatan Bahbri firing a wild volley over shortly after seeing a long-range effort tipped away by Fernando Muslera.
Uruguay began the second period with greater purpose, and Suarez came close to a second when Al-Owais palmed clear his low free-kick. The three points and a last-16 spot should have been wrapped up just after the hour mark, but Sanchez headed over when unmarked at the back post from a wonderful Edinson Cavani cross. The South Americans continued to be wasteful in front of goal, as Martin Caceres sent a header flying off target from the 33-year-old Sanchez�s free-kick. � AFP
