WC 2010 Qual:{06.07.08} ~ Uruguay vs Venezuela

[Freddy Adu]

Uruguai vs Venezuela

Apuramento WC2010 - CONMEBOL | Apuramento | Day 5

Uruguai Venezuela

Date 2008-06-07 18h00 City Stadium Referee

[TheGift]

Venezuela steal point in Uruguay

Venezuela stole a precious point away from home when they came from behind to hold Uruguay to a 1-1 draw in Saturday's FIFA World Cup™ qualifier. Captain Diego Lugano gave Uruguay an early lead but midfielder Ronald Vargas, who scored in last week's 2-0 friendly win over Brazil, salvaged a point for Venezuela after a mistake by Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

Venezuela, the only South American team never to have played at the FIFA World Cup, have seven points from five games in the South American group while Uruguay, held by Chile in their previous home game, have five.

Uruguay fielded a three-man attack and nearly scored when Maximiliano Pereira's deflected shot was well saved by Renny Vega. The hosts went ahead from the resulting corner when Sebastian Abreu rose at the far post and his header was turned in from close range by Fenerbahce defender Lugano in the 12th minute.

On a badly-worn, bumpy Estadio Centenario pitch, Uruguay continued to press but were denied by Vega, who stopped a Martin Caceres shot and an Abreu header before halftime.

The visitors equalised in the 55th minute from their first real chance when Carini failed to hold Juan Arango's long-range free kick and Vargas followed up to fire the rebound into the roof of the net.

Uruguay ran out of ideas and nearly conceded an own goal when Caceres turned Arango's pass just wide of his own goal. But they nearly snatched a late winner when substitute Vicente Sanchez fired against the crossbar after Venezuela failed to clear a looping Diego Perez cross.

FIFA.com - Venezuela steal point in Uruguay

[TheGift]

Highlights: YouTube - Uruguay vs Venezuela Eliminatorias de CONMEBOL Fecha 5 1 1