Uruguay pip Costa Rica to final World Cup berth

Published on Thursday 19 November 2009 09:14

URUGUAY sealed the 32nd and final place at next summer's World Cup late last night when they drew 1-1 with Costa Rica to seal a 2-1 aggregate victory.

The 1-0 win in San Jose at the weekend proved crucial for the Charruas, who will play in South Africa after missing the 2006 tournament in Germany.

Sebastian Abreu put the hosts ahead after a goalless first half and, even though Costa Rica equalised soon after through Walter Centeno, they failed to find the winner which could have sent them to the World Cup.

Uruguay showed more attacking intent in the first half, with the Ticos counter-attacking Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera's goal.

After the interval, Uruguay began to take advantage of gaps as Costa Rica became more desperate for a goal.

And in the 70th minute, the Charruas finally opened the scoring, Abreu getting the better of marker Michael Umana to head Diego Scotti's cross past Navas.

Celebrations at the Estadio Centenario did not last long, however, as Centeno levelled four minutes later after Muslera failed to hold Alvaro Saborio's effort.

The match was stopped for around five minutes when members of the media got involved in a scuffle with the Costa Rica substitutes. But, despite seven minutes of stoppage time, the Ticos failed to find a winner.