FIFA World Cup 2018: Uruguay beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 - As it happened

Uruguay take away six points and book their place in the knockout phase after their 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia.

Courtesy: PTI

Moscow:  A goal by Luis Suarez in the 23 minute proved to be the difference between the two sides. Uruguay join hosts Russia as they qualify for the round of 16, knocking Saudi Arabia out of the World Cup. A spirited effort from improved Saudi Arabia went in vain as they fell short of a goal. Uruguay will be happy with the result but coach Oscar Tabarez has plenty of things to work on after the dull encounter. 

Here are the updates from the match:

Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia!

It is the end of the road for Saudi Arabia. 

FULL TIME!! 

90+2 minute: Time is slipping away for Saudi Arabia. Corner for Uruguay. Free-kick to Saudi Arabia as Saurez gives away a foul. 

4 minutes of Stoppage time! 

89 minute:  Corner for Saudi Arabia. Desperate efforts by Saudi Arabia but Kanno heads the ball towards the Uruguay goal but fails to trouble the goalkeeper. 

88 minute: Uruguay on the attack. Despite that goal by Suarez, he has had a bad day so far. 

3 minutes to go!

84 minute: What a save!!  Brilliant save by the Saudi Arabia goalkeeper as Cavani looked to seal the match there with his effortless play in the final third. 

83 minute: Saudi Arabia's players are pushing hard in dying minutes of the game, they have been pressing Uruguay throughout the match with 54 percent possession. 

8 minutes to go!

81 minute: Substitution for Uruguay! Sanchez is replaced by Nandez. 

78 minute:  Substitution for Saudi Arabia! Mohammad Al Sahlawi replaces Fahad Al Muwallad. 

75 minute: While there are plenty of things for the Saudi Arabia coach to take away after this match, irrespective of the result, while Uruguay needs to work on their attacking if they qualify for the round of 16 matches. 

74 minute: Substitution for Saudi Arabia! Kanno replaces Bahbri. 

71 minute: Credit to Saudi Arabia for not panicking, not rushing into anything and they are still believing for a win here. 

70 minute: Uruguay worked really hard to get to the World Cup stage and would look to take away three points from this match.

67 minute: Free-kick to Uruguay in the right flank. The ball is headed away from the Saudi Arabia goal. Saudi Arabia survive. 

66 minute: Saudi Arabia look for inspiration up front, Luis Suarez did it for Uruguay. Can Saudi Arabia stage a comeback in this match to keep their hopes of qualifying in the next round alive? 

60 minute: MISS! Uruguay's Sanchez could have scored the second goal for his country but his diving header goes past the crossbar. 

59 minute: Substitution for Uruguay! D. Laxalt replaces C. Rodríguez and  Lucas Torreira in for Vecino. 

55 minute: The Saudi Arabia players are grinding hard to squeeze a result in their favour but they need to make most of the chances as they are running out of time and would find it difficult to keep the Uruguay strikers quiet in the final quarter of the match. 

52 minute: Saudi Arabia are creating space in the final third but once again they give away the ball with poor finishing. They need to improve if they fancy their chances of winning this game. 

49 minute: Free-kick to Uruguay. Suarez gears up to take it. That was close! the ball was deflected onto the goal by Saudi Arabia's defenders forcing the goalkeeper to flex to his left to save it. 

47 minute: Saudi Arabia are pressing hard and forcing Uruguay to fall back and defend deep. 

Second-half is underway. 

Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia!

Half-time!!

45+1 minute: That was close! The Uruguay goalkeeper was quick enough to plunge onto the ball but he did look in trouble there. Precise passing up front could do the trick for Saudi Arabia. 

2 minutes of Stoppage time!

45 minute: Substitution for Saudi Arabia! Hussain Al Mogahwi replaces Taisir Al Jassim. 

43 minute: Uruguay's Cavani beats two Saudia Arabia defenders in the penalty box, opts for a pass, but his teammate is cramped for space. The ball is cleared to safety. 

39 minute: Brilliant play! Saudia Arabia player shows great vision with a chip shot to find a teammate in the Uruguay penalty box, but the ball gets cleared. Uruguay look calm even though they are under constant attacks from Saudi Arabia. 

35 minute: The tempo of the match has gone down but Saudi Arabia hold most of the possession in the midfield. They are lacking quality in the final third. 

33 minute: Saudi Arabia are attacking desperately as they need to pull off a win to stay alive in the tournament. 

30 minute: While Uruguay lead Saudi Arabia 1-0, Saudia Arabia look more dominating with 54 percent possession but they are giving away opportunities in the final-third. They need inspiration in the final third. 

28 minute: That was close! Saudi Arabia's Hatan misses the goal as he clouds the ball away from the Uruguay goal. MISS!

This Luis Suarez's 52nd International goal in his 100th match for Uruguay. 

Uruguay 1-0 Saudi Arabia 

23 minute: GOAL!!! Uruguay's Luis Suarez goes unmarked and nets the ball comfortably to open the scoreline for Uruguay. 

Possession 

Uruguay- 50

Saudi Arabia- 50

15 minute: Handball by Uruguay's Vecino near the Saudi Arabia penalty box. Free-kick to Saudi Arabia.    

13 minute: Uruguay's attempts a half-volley from the near post but the ball goes wide. 

10 minute: It has been a slow start by both the teams at the Rostov Arena. Saudi Arabia show character but lack quality up-front.

6 minute: Free-kick to Saudi Arabia. Good effort by Saudi Arabia's player but the defence deflects the ball to safety. 

2 minute: Luis Suarez attempts a shot on the Saudi Arabia goal but the ball is blocked by the defender. 

Kick-off

Lineups 

Uruguay XI: Muslera; Caceres, Godin, Gimenez, Varela; Sanchez, Vecino, Betancur, Rodriguez; Cavani, Suarez

Saudi Arabia XI: Alowais; Al-Burayk, Ali, Osama, Yasser, Otayf; Salman, Hatan, Jaiseer, Salem, Falhad

Experience will be the key when Uruguay look to seal their place in the last 16 of the World Cup against Saudi Arabia. Uruguay's 1-0 win against Egypt in their opening match means beating Saudi Arabia would leave Uruguay with six points and allow them to book their place in the knockout phase.

The Saudi players were strongly criticised for their performance in their 0-5 defeat to Russia in their opening match in the World Cup, with one top official accusing them of making "just 5 percent effort."

Uruguay full squad:

Goalkeepers - Martin Campana, Fernando Muslera, Martin Silva

Defenders - Martin Caceres, Sebastian Coates, Jose Maria Gimenez, Diego Godin, Maximiliano Pereira, Gaston Silva, Guillermo Varela

Midfielders - Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Rodrigo Bentancur, Diego Laxalt, Nahitan Nandez, Cristian Rodriguez, Carlos Sanchez, Lucas Torreira, Matias Vecino, Jonathan Urretaviscaya.

Forwards - Edinson Cavani, Maximiliano Gomez, Cristhian Stuani, Luis Suarez

Saudi Arabia full squad:

Goalkeepers - Yasser Almosailem, Abdullah Almuaiouf, Mohammed Alowais

Defenders - Ali Albulayhi, Mohammed Alburayk, Mansour Alharbi,Yasir Alshahrani, Motaz Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Omar Othman

Midfielders - Salem Aldawsari, Salman Alfaraj, Taiseer Aljassam, Abdullah Alkhaibari, Abdulmalek Alkhaibri, Hussain Almoqahwi, Yahia Alsherhri, Hatan Bahbir, Mohamed Kanno, Abdullah Otayf

Forwards - Fahad Almuwallad, Mohamed Alsahlawi, Muhannad Asiri Carcela-Gonzalez