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Saudi Arabia had Mohammed Al-Owais to thank for avoiding defeat of their World Cup warm-up match in opposition to Ecuador in Spain on Friday, which led to a goalless draw.
The Al-Hilal goalkeeper was in glowing type as he saved Herve Renard’s males from falling to a 3rd consecutive loss by the hands of South American opposition, following defeats in June by Colombia and Venezuela.
With lower than two months to go earlier than their World Cup opener in opposition to Argentina, adopted by video games in opposition to Poland and Mexico, Friday’s draw will likely be seen as a good outcome for the Inexperienced Falcons, even when they had been second finest for a lot of the sport, struggled to make an impression in assault and failed to seek out the online for a 3rd sport in a row.
The South Individuals dominated the opening interval and can have been pissed off to not be forward on the break. They need to have gone forward within the ninth minute when Pervis Estupinan despatched over an ideal cross from the left. Piero Hincapie was in a position to get between three defenders and head the ball into the highest nook of the online — or so everybody thought. Immediately, Al-Owais got here flying throughout the objective to make a unbelievable save. It was to not be the one time the 30-year-old could be known as into motion.
There was nonetheless lower than quarter-hour on the clock when Ecuador had their finest likelihood of the sport. Riyadh Sharahili was caught in possession at in regards to the halfway level of his personal half and the ball was fed to Enner Valencia. Immediately discovering himself by on objective, the Fenerbache ahead minimize in from the left facet however dragged his shot broad when confronted with the onrushing Al-Owais.
Quickly after, the striker did the identical factor from a tighter angle on the opposite facet of the realm, as the boys in yellow continued to seek out methods to get behind the Saudi protection.
On the 20-minute mark, Estupinan fired a free-kick over the bar because the stress continued to mount. The gaps on the again had been once more in proof moments later when a by ball from contained in the Ecuador half nearly launched Valencia as soon as extra.
With Ecuador firmly in management, Saudi Arabia nearly took a shock lead 5 minutes earlier than the break throughout a uncommon foray into opposition territory. Hincapie fell over close to the penalty space and immediately Firas Al-Buraikan, the highest scorer within the Saudi Skilled League final season, was in on objective. The Al-Fateh ahead pushed into the realm and although he had choices for passing, he rightly determined to go for objective himself. However the shot was tame; low and straight at Alexander Dominguez, who made his first actual save of the sport.
The primary half ended on a extra acquainted word. Firstly Valencia’s long-range shot was turned away by Al-Owais, who then needed to make one other effective save from the resultant nook as Valencia once more got here shut.
There was extra power within the opening interval of the second half from the Saudis as they seemed to get within the faces of their opponents and deny them time and area on the ball.
Clear probabilities had been nonetheless laborious to return by however not less than Ecuador, who will line-up in opposition to Qatar in Doha on Nov. 20 within the opening match of the World Cup, weren’t chopping by the Saudi Arabian protection fairly as usually as that they had within the first half.
However then Al-Owais was compelled again into motion as he pulled off a powerful double-stop from substitute Jose Cifuentes. The Los Angeles midfielder’s first shot, a half-volley from the sting of the realm, was cleared by the goalkeeper’s boot. His volleyed follow-up bounced up off the turf and was looping towards the highest of the online when Al-Owais acrobatically tipped it over the bar.
He made a good higher save with 17 minutes remaining, when Michael Estrada outpaced Ali Al-Bulaihi to run onto Estupinan’s lengthy ball. Al-Owais was fast off his line to make the save.
Saudi Arabia’s finest attacking second got here with eight minutes remaining. Salem Al-Dawsari, who had been working laborious with out ever managing to have the affect he wished, noticed his shot blocked and the rebound fly straight into Dominguez’s arms.
Ecuador continued to push for a winner however couldn’t discover a well past Al-Owais, who did greater than sufficient to make sure that any discuss of alternative by goalkeeping rival Abdullah Al-Mayouf, neglected of the squad by Renard, will fade for now.
Al-Owais has one other likelihood to impress on Tuesday, when the Saudi preparations for the World Cup proceed with a match in opposition to the USA, who had been defeated 2-0 by Japan on Friday in Germany.
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