Lamine Yamal (Photo By FotosLaLiga)
Uruguay were held to a 2-2 draw by minnow Cabo Verde while Belgium failed to find the net against Iran and held to a goalless draw in their FIFA World Cup group matches. But former champions turned on the masterclass to thrash a hapless Saudi Arabia 4-0.
Debutants Cabo Verde scored a second-half equaliser to salvage the draw against Uruguay in Miami, backing up their shock opening stalemate with Spain.
The debutants took the lead in Miami against the two-time former winners when Kevin Pina rifled in their first-ever World Cup goal before Uruguay hit back on the stroke of half-time to lead through Maximiliano Araujo and Agustin Canobbio, but Cabo Verdean Helio Varela netted just after the hour to ensure the spoils were shared in the tightly-contested pool.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa made two changes to the team which were held by Saudi Arabia, with Al Hilal striker Darwin Nunez dropping to the bench.
Bubista opted for three alterations to his Cabo Verde team, all in attacking positions.
Cabo Verde started with more intent going forward than they were able to show against Spain, but it was still Uruguay who created the first real opening when Federico Valverde drilled a left-footed shot wide.
But the tournament debutants forged ahead when Pina crashed a long-range free-kick through a poor Uruguay wall and past Muslera.
Uruguay were in desperate need of their equaliser when it arrived in the 44th minute.
Sidney Lopes Cabral headed the ball against his own post under pressure from Rodrigo Bentancur, and Araujo stooped to nod in the rebound with Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha stranded.
They completed the turnaround in the sixth minute of first-half added time, as Canobbio turned in Araujo’s header across goal on the volley.
Uruguay appeared in control early in the second half until Muslera inexplicably raced out of his goal in the 61st minute and Cabo Verde substitute Varela took full advantage to roll the ball into an empty net after an excellent first touch.
Vozinha, the hero of Cabo Verde’s draw with Spain, fumbled to allow Araujo to tap in, but his blushes were spared by an offside flag.
Real Madrid midfielder Valverde blazed a late free-kick over the bar from just outside the box, leaving Uruguay on the brink of a hugely disappointing exit.
Cabo Verde boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout phase with their second point in Group H.
The African island nation face Saudi Arabia, thumped 4-0 by Spain earlier Sunday, in their final group game next Saturday, knowing victory would secure a last-32 berth.
Two-time world champions Uruguay’s hopes of progressing are in serious danger, though, after again being held by lower-ranked opposition after their 1-1 draw with the Saudis.
Saudi Arabia’s hopes of advancing to the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 suffered a setback after they fell to a 4-0 defeat against former champions Spain on Sunday.
The loss means Saudi Arabia must beat Cabo Verde in their final Group H match to stand a chance of progressing to the Round of 32.
Yamal starts the rout
Lamine Yamal kickstarted Spain’s campaign as he returned to the starting line-up to open the scoring after just 10 minutes, before a Mikel Oyarzabal brace and a Hassan Al Tambakti own goal ensured Luis de la Fuente’s side took a big step towards the last 32.
Yamal’s return was one of four changes in total with Pedro Porro, Dani Olmo and Alex Baena also coming into European champions Spain’s starting line-up.
After over 2,500 passes and 50 attempts at goal since their last FIFA World Cup goal, Spain finally found the net and fittingly Yamal made the breakthrough.
Oyarzabal found space in behind the Saudi defence and his low cross picked out the 18-year-old to slot in at the back post.
Oyarzabal then pounced on Aymeric Laporte’s flick in the 21st minute on to give the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners the breathing space they craved.
Just three minutes later, the Real Sociedad forward volleyed home from Dani Olmo’s header for his 14th international goal in his last 13 caps.
Oyarzabal was inches away from a first half hat-trick when his audacious effort with the outside of his foot from a narrow angle came back off the crossbar.
With the job done by half-time, De la Fuente could afford the luxury of replacing Yamal and Oyarzabal at the break.
The changes did not disrupt the waves of Spanish attack towards the Saudi goal, but the fourth also came via a corner.
Cucurella was afforded acres of space to shoot and although his effort was repelled by Mohammed Al Owais, the rebound deflected in off the unfortunate Tambakti.
Spain travel to Guadalajara next for the final group game against two-time winners Uruguay on Friday.
Belgium fail to shine
Belgium were held to a goalless draw by Islamic Republic of Iran in an absorbing encounter on Sunday that saw the European side reduced to 10 men and facing the possibility of group-stage elimination for a second straight FIFA World Cup.
A star-studded though ageing lineup including Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku was – if anything -fortunate to leave Los Angeles with a point, controlling possession yet ceding the game’s best chances to a resolute Iran team.
Having switched to a back five, Iran sat deep in the first half, allowing Belgium to dominate possession and to play hundreds of passes around their penalty area without creating any clear-cut opportunities.
Target man Lukaku, back in the starting lineup after making an impact from the bench in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egypt, managed a solitary headed effort in the 36th minute, which sailed over the bar.
Iran had the first half’s two best chances, entirely against the run of play. Hossein Kanani’s low shot after a long throw was well saved by an outstretched Thibaut Courtois.
And Iran’s star striker Taremi had the ball in the net midway through the half after a cleverly worked free-kick, but it was ruled offside.
The former Inter Milan man span away from Belgium’s wall, swiveled and buried the ball, before VAR overruled the effort.
After the break, Belgium continued to huff and puff while Taremi again nearly scored at the other end. Courtois did well to save after Kanani had flicked on a long throw to the Iran forward.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia made a triple substitution around the hour mark and his side immediately came close, Maxim De Cuyper’s point-blank effort from De Bruyne’s cut-back well saved.
Substitute Hans Vanaken blasted a shot from a rebound well over the bar moments later, as the Red Devils finally began to knock on Iran’s door in earnest.
But disaster struck for Belgium as Nathan Ngoy was sent off. The centre-back had badly underhit a pass back to Courtois, and raised his arm into Taremi as the striker raced through on goal.
The game settled into a nervous, scrappy stalemate, though De Cuyper again came close with a low effort from just outside the box.
