FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Uruguay Clinch Thrilling 3-2 Victory Over Colombia with Late Strike

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Uruguay secured a dramatic 3-2 win over Colombia in South American World Cup qualifying on Friday, courtesy of a last-minute goal, alleviating the mounting pressure on head coach Marcelo Bielsa.

The victory marked Uruguay's first home win in a year, a crucial result in their campaign.

Match Highlights

Juan Fernando Quintero opened the scoring for Colombia in the 31st minute with an audacious direct free-kick from the left edge of the penalty box, catching Uruguay's defence off guard. Uruguay levelled the match in the 57th minute when a defensive error led to an own goal by Davinson Sánchez.

The climax of the encounter came in added time, delivering a rollercoaster of emotions for both teams. André Gomez equalised for Colombia in the 96th minute with a close-range strike, seemingly salvaging a point for the visitors. However, Manuel Ugarte snatched the victory for Uruguay just four minutes later with a precise shot from the edge of the box.

Bielsa Under Scrutiny

Marcelo Bielsa has faced significant criticism since October, notably after recently retired striker Luis Suárez publicly denounced the coach’s treatment of players during the Copa América. Suárez claimed Bielsa's methods caused unnecessary "friction" within the team. Notably, other Uruguay players did not defend Bielsa, who admitted that his relationship with the squad had been strained.

Tensions from Copa América

This was the first meeting between Uruguay and Colombia since their contentious Copa América semi-final, which saw Colombia advance to the final. That match ended in controversy as Uruguay's Darwin Núñez and several teammates entered the stands following a 1-0 defeat, amidst a brawl between fans at Bank of America Stadium.

South American Qualifying Standings

Argentina remain top of the 10-team South American table with 22 points from 11 matches, despite their 2-1 loss to Paraguay on Thursday. Uruguay and Colombia are now tied, three points behind the leaders. Brazil sit in fourth place with 17 points after being held to a 1-1 draw against Venezuela.

In other results, Ecuador thrashed Bolivia 4-0 on Thursday to retain fifth position with 16 points. Bolivia languish in eighth place with 12 points.

Upcoming Fixtures

The qualifiers continue next Tuesday, with Uruguay travelling to Brazil and Colombia hosting Ecuador.