URUGUAY’S blushes were spared against Saudi Arabia – first by a late equaliser and then by an early whistle from the ref.
Maxi Araujo scored in the 80th minute to rescue a draw for the South American side in Miami.
Uruguay threw everything they had at their Group H opponents having fallen behind before halftime.
And they almost paid a price in injury time – but for the referee’s whistle.
The official seemingly ended the game when Saudi Arabia had a chance to counter and steal a famous World Cup win.
One fan posted: “Saudi Arabia were through on goal there – what a terrible time to blow the whistle.”
Another said: “OMG why did he blow the final whistle Saudi were through on goal.”
While a third posted: “Saudi Arabia would’ve been through if he didn’t blow the whistle there wouldn’t they?”
FIFA’s website had just seven tickets on sale for this Group H clash just before the start – despite loads of empty seats clearly visible in the stands.
The official attendance was 62,764 in the 64,478 capacity home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.
Fifa stressed that the stadium was almost full, even with some sizable gaps in the stands.
Saudi Arabia, however, almost secured a World Cup golden ticket, leading Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay up until the 80th minute before Araujo’s crucial leveller earned a share of the spoils.
Abdulelah Al Amri’s 41st minute strike put the boys in green ahead and another surprise, after Cape Verde’s stunning shutout of European champions Spain earlier in the day, looked on the cards until Sporting Lisbon man Araujo pounced.
Bielsa’s typically stormy reign with Uruguay cast a dark cloud over his preparations and this shaky performance will heap further pressure on his 70-year-old shoulders.
The South Americans face Cape Verde here on Sunday – and will need to play a whole lot better than this to avoid an early exit.
Former Liverpool frontman Darwin Nunez was hooked at half-time with Uruguay’s main man – Real Madrid skipper Federico Valverde – failing to sparkle.
Nunez hasn’t played since February after falling out of favour in the Saudi Pro League, and it showed.
He looked off the pace – and he wasn’t alone.The Uruguayans came into the clash off the back of a four hour delay after the plane taking them from Mexico to Miami was missing Fifa required documentation.
But Bielsa’s side looked like a team who were winless in their last four games, which included a whopping 5-1 defeat by the United States last November.
They looked the better side early on, Araujo seeing a fourth minute shot saved before Federico Vinas went close with a header.
The Saudis, however, whose players mostly ply their trade in the Saudi Pro League, stuck to their task and on 41, received their reward.
Moments earlier, Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera brilliantly tipped a fierce Al Amri shot over.
But he was at fault for the goal, failing to hold Hassan Al Tambakti’s bullet header and Al Amri stabbed home.
Bielsa’s side – other than Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte – looked devoid of ideas.
But with 10 minutes left Sporting Lisbon’s Araujo rifled home from an angle to nab what could be a vital point which could have turned into all three if Valverde’s classy 20 yard drive hadn’t produced a brilliant save by Saudi keeper Mohammed Al Owais at the death.