Luis Suarez set up Uruguay’s goal in a 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in Jeddah in his first appearance in the sky blue shirt since his disgraceful exit from the World Cup for biting Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini.
The Barcelona striker’s shot from an angle on 47 minutes came back off the far post before hitting the unfortunate Hassan Muath Fallatah before going in for an own goal.
Suarez was replaced with 20 minutes to go but his hopes of a winning international return were ruined by Naif Hazazi’s last minute equaliser for the hosts.
Although still serving a nine-match competitive international ban, Suarez is allowed to play in friendlies.
He scored two goals for his club’s reserves in a friendly against an Indonesia under-19 team last month as his additional four-month ban from playing football anywhere likewise does not include friendlies.
“Happy to wear this shirt again, gives me so much joy. Love the shirt. Uruguay!!,” tweeted Suarez after the game.
Suarez created the opening goal as he met Nicolas Lodeiro’s free-kick in a clever set-piece move on the full volley.
His shot beat Abdullah but came back off the upright and into the danger zone, where Hazazi could do nothing as it hit him and went in.
Just as Uruguay looked set to welcome back Suarez with a win, Saudi Arabia struck with the full 90 minutes almost up.
Fallatah went some way to making up for his earlier error by crossing from wide on the right for Haz-azi to rise highest in the box and send a downward header in past Ferna-ndo Muslera.
