Uruguay win but must settle for Jordan playoff

Two-time champions Uruguay served up a thrilling 3-2 win over Argentina but must beat Jordan in next months's intercontinental playoff if they are to reach the World Cup finals.
Uruguay were beaten to the punch by Chile and Ecuador, who claimed the final automatic South American qualifying berths behind regional group winners Argentina and second-placed Colombia yesterday.
Saluting his team for a "dignified" end to their regional program, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez indicated they must not take Jordan lightly, despite their rivals being ranked 73rd to their own seventh.
"Like all Uruguayans I hope we make it through (but) we would be very wrong to think Jordan cannot cause us problems," Tabarez warned.

Chile beat Ecuador 2-1 in Santiago to ensure third place in the regional table with 28 points from their 16 matches, two behind Colombia and four shy of two-time world champions Argentina. Despite their loss Ecuador just prised the final automatic slot away from the Uruguayans on goal difference after both landed a points tally of 25.
Uruguay had lost their previous qualifier in Ecuador, compromising their hopes, but signed off with a win and should prove too strong for Asian minnows Jordan.

Cristian Rodriguez put Uruguay into an early lead only for Maxi Rodriguez to drill past Fernando Muslera in the Uruguayan goal three minutes later from an Augusto Fernandez pass. Muslera brilliantly stopped an Erik Lamela volley as Argentina -- without the injured Lionel Messi -- threatened to wreck any lingering chance the Uruguayans had of sneaking into the final automatic slot.

But the Montevideo crowd were on their feet again as their sky-blue shirted stars again went in front, courtesy of a Luis Suarez penalty -- after the Liverpool man had been bundled to the ground in the box -- his effort just eluded goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
Already assured of top spot, Argentina leveled again with Maxi Rodriguez bagging his second four minutes before the break with a fine run and shimmy past a pair of defenders.
The Uruguayans again rolled their sleeves up, however, and Edinson Cavani, dangerous all night, made it 3-2 six minutes after the restart.