Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia; pre-match report and insights by STATS
This will be the third meeting between Uruguay and Saudi Arabia, as the first two have come in friendlies. Saudi Arabia won 3-2 when the sides first met in March 2002 in Dammam, while the nations drew 1-1 in Jeddah in October 2014.
MATCHDAY 1
- Jose Maria Gimenez’s winning goal against Egypt was a header. Uruguay led CONMEBOL with nine headed goals during qualifying. - José María Giménez scored with his first shot on target at the World Cup (fourth appearance). - Uruguay hit the target with just four shots against Egypt, their fewest in a World Cup match since they had three shots on target against France in 2010. - Saudi Arabia’s 5-0 loss to Russia in the opening match was their second-biggest defeat in their World Cup history (8-0 vs Germany in 2002).
- Saudi Arabia failed to register a shot on target against Russia. The only time a team failed to hit the target during the entire 2014 tournament was Australia against Spain
Uruguay vs Saudi Arabia team form and data by STATS
WORLD CUP HISTORY
- Uruguay have not won their first two games at a World Cup since 1954 in Switzerland (winning 2-0 against Czechoslovakia and 7-0 against Scotland). - Seven of Uruguay's last eight wins at the World Cup have been by a single goal, dating back to the 1970 World Cup. - There has been one goal scored in the last 10 minutes in six of Uruguay’s last seven games at the World Cup (4 scored and 2 conceded).
All 19 Uruguay defeats at the World Cup have been against nations from Europe, North America or South America (52 games). They have a record of four wins, one win in a penalty shoot-out and one draw against African and Asian nations in this competition. - Uruguay have won five of their last six group stage matches at the World Cup, only failing to win in a 3-1 defeat against Costa Rica in their first game of the 2014 World Cup. - Saudi Arabia have failed to win in their last 11 matches at the World Cup, losing nine times and drawing twice since a 1-0 win over Belgium in their last group match in 1994. - Saudi Arabia have failed to score in their last three World Cup matches – equalling their longest goalless run at the tournament. They failed to score in any of their three games at the 2002 World Cup, held in South Korea/Japan. - Saudi Arabia have failed to score in eight of their last ten World Cup matches, being outscored 31-4 in those games. - Saudi Arabia have conceded at least two goals in nine of their 14 World Cup matches. - This will be Saudi Arabia’s first World Cup match against an opponent from the Americas.
Player's data related to the matchday 1
SAUDI ARABIA STATISTICS
- Saudi Arabia have failed to hit the target in two of their last three World Cup matches following their game against Russia, as they also did not hit a shot on target in a 4-0 defeat against Ukraine at the 2006 World Cup. - Saudi Arabia had 59% possession in their defeat against Russia, as the four players with the most touches in the game were all Saudi Arabian, led by Salman Alfaraj’s 92 touches. - Salman Alfaraj completed 75 passes against Russia, at least 15 more than any other player in that match. - Osama Hawsawi won possession 21 times against Russia, no other player for either side won possession on more than 17 occasions
Saudi's defensive location breakdowns from the first match against Russia by STATS
DATA PROVIDED BY STATS LLC, www.stats.com
