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Saudi Arabia thanked Mohammed Al-Owais for avoiding a defeat in Spain’s World Cup warm-up match against Ecuador on Friday, which ended in a tight draw.
The Al-Hilal goalkeeper kept Herve Renard’s men in a fine performance for a third consecutive defeat at the hands of the South American opposition, following defeats in Colombia and Venezuela in June.
With less than two months to go before their World Cup opener against Argentina, followed by games against Poland and Mexico, Friday’s draw will be seen as a good result for the Green Falcons, even if they are in the middle of the game. Second-best most of the time, struggling to impress in attack, failing to net for the third straight game.
The South Americans dominated the opening stages and would have been frustrated by not being able to take the lead at half-time. They should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when Pervis Estupinan delivered a perfect cross from the left. Piero Hincapie was able to weave between the three defenders and head the ball into the top corner of the net – at least everyone thought so. Suddenly, Al-Owais flew across the goal and made a brilliant save. This isn’t the only time the 30-year-old has been called to action.
Ecuador’s best chance of the game is less than 15 minutes away. Riyadh Sharahili was in possession of the ball around the halfway point of his own half and the ball was passed to Enna Valencia. Suddenly finding himself on target, the Fenerbahce striker cut in from the left but dragged it out in the face of a sudden Owais.
Soon after, the striker did the same from a narrower angle on the other side of the box, as the man in yellow continued to find ways to evade the Saudi defence.
In the 20th minute, Estupinan’s free kick went over the crossbar and the pressure continued to increase. Moments later, the gap between the defenders was evident again when a through ball from Ecuador’s half almost freed Valencia again.
With Ecuador firmly in control, Saudi Arabia almost took a shocking lead five minutes before the break in a rare foray into opposition territory. Hincapie went down near the penalty area and Firas Al-Buraikan, the top scorer in the Saudi Pro League last season, suddenly scored. The Al-Fateh striker advanced into the area and, although he had a passing option, he rightly decided to go for the goal himself. But the footage was gentle; Alexandre Dominguez swooped low and straight into the game, making his first real save.
The first half ended on a more familiar note. First, Valencia’s long-range shot was blocked by Owais, then Valencia approached again and he had to make another brilliant save from the corner.
The Saudis were more dynamic at the start of the second half as they tried to face their opponents and deprive them of time and space on the ball.
Obvious chances are still hard to come by, but at least Ecuador, who faces Qatar in their World Cup opener in Doha on November 20, hasn’t breached Saudi Arabia’s defences as often as they did at the World Cup. first half.
But then Al-Owais was forced to get back into action as he made an impressive two stops from substitute Jose Cifuentes. The Los Angeles midfielder’s first shot was a half-volley from the edge of the box, which was cleared by the goalkeeper’s boot. As Al-Owais acrobatic tipped the ball off the crossbar, his volley follow bounced off the turf and swung towards the top of the net.
He made a better save with 17 minutes left when Michael Estrada passed Ali Al-Bulaihi to run to Estupinan on the long pass. Al-Owais made a quick save.
Saudi Arabia’s best attacking moment came with eight minutes left. Salem Al-Dawsari, who had been working hard but not having the impact he wanted, saw his shot blocked and the rebound go straight into Dominguez’s arms.
Ecuador continues to fight for the winner but can’t find a way to get past Al-Owais, who has done enough to secure any talk of goalkeeper rival Abdullah Mayouf being replaced by Renard’s exclusion from the squad It will disappear now.
Al-Owais has another chance to impress on Tuesday, when Saudi Arabia’s World Cup preparations continue with the United States, which beat Japan 2-0 in Germany on Friday.
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