Uruguay beat Saudi Arabia 1-0 on Wednesday thanks to a goal from striker Luis Suarez, propelling the South Americans and hosts Russia into the knockout stage and eliminating the Saudis.
Suarez, making his 100th appearance for the national team, became the first Uruguayan to score in three different World Cups after a mistake by goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Owais following a corner in the 23rd minute.
But Uruguay's largely tepid performance against Saudi Arabia, the second-lowest ranked side of the tournament, did not calm fears that Suarez, 31, is not in his best form and may not be able to carry the two-time champions far in Russia.
Uruguay and Russia from group A will face Spain, Portugal, or Iran from group B in the second round.
Suarez's goal was by no means pretty, but it did the trick. At least Suarez, who missed three sitters in Uruguay's 1-0 opening win against Egypt, was his vintage efficient self with his 52nd international goal although he will not have dismissed fears he was not 100 per cent fit. Saudi Arabia, who suffered a minor scare when an engine on their plane caught fire before landing on Rostov-on-Don on Monday, instead have not found the back of the net in their last four World Cup outings.
After a 5-0 drubbing by Russia in the tournament's opening game, they were more playful but ultimately comparatively toothless at the Rostov Arena before 42,678 fans. With temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius, two-time world champions Uruguay and Saudi Arabia got off to a cautious start. Uruguay's Edinson Cavani wasted a chance in the 14th minute, skying a half volley over the bar.
The Russian fans were the loudest, chanting "Russia, Russia" as the rest of the arena appeared to doze off. The stadium burst into life in the 23rd minute, however, when an unmarked Suarez coolly tapped into an empty net from a corner kick after keeper Al-Owais came out but misjudged his jump and couldn't reach the ball.
The Saudis continued to move the ball around but barely threatened the typically gritty Uruguay defence. They suffered a setback shortly before the interval as veteran Taisir Al-Jassim was replaced by Housain Al-Mogahwi with an apparent thigh injury. The second half was even scrappier, with Saudi Arabia too limited to run riot as Uruguay were happy with a narrow advantage. They did come close to doubling the tally in the closing stages, however, when Lucas Torreira's wild shot took a deflection off of Cavani and almost beat Al-Owais.