Uruguay to take slender lead to Australia

Uruguay took the first step to repeating the same story as four years ago by reaching the World Cup at the expense of Australia in the South America-Oceania play-off.

The Uruguayans won the first leg at home on Saturday thanks to a header by defender Dario Rodriguez.

Despite the narrow margin of victory the winners celebrated the triumph knowing that a draw on Wednesday in Sydney would put them in the World Cup, and scoring once there would force the Socceroos to hit three goals in reply.

Australia had lost all four play-offs they had previously contested but they were hoping a victory would send them to their second-ever World Cup.

The initial line-ups showed the Uruguayans attacking intentions, with Alvaro Recoba joined by three forwards in Marcelo Zalayeta, Richard Morales and Diego Forlan, while Australia coach Guus Hiddink chose a more cautious approach.

However the Australians had the best early chance as Mark Viduka made a good run into the penalty box only to then shoot wide in the seventh minute.

Two minutes later defender Carlos Diogo snuffed out another chance for the visitors, while Uruguayan keeper Fabian Carini made a great save to repel a free kick from Viduka.

The hosts looked affected by nerves in the early stages as pressed on by the 65,000 fans that crowded the stadium, they weren’t able to control the ball as they intended to.

Things were made even worse for Uruguay in the 17th minute when star striker Forlan left the pitch with an injury, Dario Silva coming on to replace him.

Uruguay finally had their first chance in the 27th minute, with a cross that Diego Lopez flicked onto Diogo only for his final effort to have no power leaving an easy save for Mark Schwarzer.

That was the first piece of action for the visiting keeper but he would not be kept quiet for much longer.

Indeed the ultimately crucial strike came in the 35th minute when Recoba sent in a free-kick from the right side of the penalty area for Rodriguez to hit the winner.

After the break Australia tried to break forward and take the fight to Uruguay but they didn’t create many clear-cut goalscoring chances.

Viduka was close to equalising in the 47th minute after a cross from Brett Emerton but his shot went just wide, and substitute Mark Bresciano did likewise 10 minutes later.

The game opened up in the final 15 minutes and after good interplay between Diogo, Recoba and Fabian Estoyanoff, Richard Morales was able to get a shot on goal but Schwarzer saved it.

Jason Culina almost made it 1-1 with a shot from long distance but that was the Australian’s final chance.

Schwarzer saved another weak header from Silva in the 80th minute, but he saved his best to last saving from Recoba after the Internazionale man was put through one-on-one with the Middlesbrough keeper.