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Saturday November 16, 2024

Uruguay end winless run with dramatic late win over Colombia

By AFP
November 17, 2024
Uruguays midfielder Manuel Ugarte (bottom) celebrates with teammates after scoring his teams winner in their 3-2 victory over Colombia on November 15, 2024. — AFP
Uruguay's midfielder Manuel Ugarte (bottom) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's winner in their 3-2 victory over Colombia on November 15, 2024. — AFP

MONTEVIDEO: Manuel Ugarte grabbed a dramatic last-gasp winner as Uruguay ended a five-match winless streak with a thrilling 3-2 win over Colombia in South American World Cup qualifying on Friday. Marcelo Bielsa´s Uruguay looked set for a 2-1 win until Colombia levelled through Andres Gomez in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

But once the celebrations and the lengthy VAR check were over -- Uruguay pumped the ball into the box and the ball fell to the Manchester United midfielder Ugarte and the substitute buried the chance for his first international goal.

The crowd at the historic Estadio Centenario went wild as Uruguay claimed the three points and some revenge for their bad-tempered loss to Colombia in the Copa America semi-finals in July. The win moves them above Colombia, on goal difference, into second place behind leaders Argentina.