Luis Suarez scores in first game back: ‘Happy to wear Uruguay shirt again’

Uruguayan football player Luis Suarez, left, runs with the ball past Saudi Arabia's Salem Al Dawsari during their friendly football match at King Abdullah stadium in Jeddah October 10, 2014. AFP PHOTOShow more

PARIS // Luis Suarez made his first international appearance since being banned for biting Italian Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup and played a part in Uruguay’s goal as they drew 1-1 with Saudi Arabia in a friendly on Friday.

Uruguay went ahead two minutes into the second half in Jeddah when a volley by Barcelona striker Suarez from Nicolas Lodeiro’s cross came back off the post, hit midfielder Hassan Fallatah and went in for an own goal.

Suarez, who came off after 69 minutes, was clearly delighted to be back in action and celebrated with an emotionally charged run towards the crowd.

In a strange twist of fate, Chiellini also had a night to remember, scoring all three goals, including one at the wrong end as Italy beat Azerbaijan 2-1 in a Euro 2016 qualifying match in Palermo.

The names of Suarez and Chiellini will forever be linked after what happened in the World Cup, and although the Uruguayan did not get on the score sheet in his first match for his country since that infamous bite, he celebrated as if he had.

“Happy to wear this shirt again which gives me so much joy. You never lose your love for the shirt. Uruguay!!” Suarez said on Twitter.

He might have scored a second goal for Uruguay but in a clear indication of his lack of match fitness he failed to beat the goalkeeper for speed in a one-on-one situation, had his shot parried and the ball was then cleared off the line.

Uruguay had goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to thank for keeping the home side at bay until the final minute when substitute Naif Hazazi headed a deserved equaliser at the end of a dominant second half from the Saudis.

Former Liverpool striker Suarez had last played for Uruguay in their third group match at the World Cup finals on June 24 in a 1-0 win during which he bit Chiellini on the shoulder.

The incident was missed by the referee but FIFA suspended Suarez for four months from all football activity and nine competitive internationals, the first of which he served when Uruguay lost to Colombia in their last-16 clash four days later.

Suarez has been allowed to play friendly matches after a partial reprieve to the conditions of his ban following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in August. Uruguay play a second tour match on Monday against Oman, who lost 4-3 to Costa Rica on Friday.

He is expected to make his Barcelona debut in the “clasico” against Real Madrid in La Liga on Oct. 26.

Suarez will miss the Copa America next year when Uruguay defend their continental title in Chile and his country’s first few qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup in Russia depending on how many matches they play at the Copa.

Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin was due to captain Uruguay against the Saudis, but did not play after injuring a calf muscle when the bar of a gymnasium weight fell on his leg on Thursday, the Uruguayan daily El Observador said. Maxi Pereira led the side instead.

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