Uruguay sitting pretty for Cup berth
SAN JOSE, California: Uruguay took another step towards the 2010 World Cup with captain Diego Lugano’s first-half strike proving enough for a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their qualifying play-off against Costa Rica.
The second leg of the tie will be held on Wednesday in Montevideo, where Costa Rica can expect to struggle to turn things around.
Uruguay are hoping to return to the global football showcase after losing their qualification play-off to Australia in the 2006 event.
Costa Rica, who have appeared in the past two World Cups, were less than 30 seconds from qualifying last month when they allowed Jonathan Bornstein’s goal in injury time to give the United States a 2-2 draw at Washington.
That gave Honduras the third and final direct entry berth from the North and Central America and the Caribbean region.
Uruguay reached the play-off by finishing fifth in South American qualifying.
In African qualifying, Egypt’s last-gasp goal against Algeria set up a one-match play-off between the two teams for a place in next year’s final, while Nigeria and Cameroon both secured spots in South Africa.
Algeria were just moments away from qualifying, but a goal late in stoppage time from Emad Meteab gave Egypt a 2-0 win in Cairo and put both teams level on points and goal difference in group C. They will meet again on Wednesday in Sudan to decide the group winner.
Earlier on Saturday, Obafemi Martins scored twice to help Nigeria come from behind and edge Kenya 3-2, and Cameroon secured their group victory by beating Morocco 2-0. But Tunisia lost 1-0 to Mozambique and will miss out on football’s top tournament.
In group A, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions secured the top spot with 13 points, four clear of Gabon, to reach the finals for the sixth time, a record for an African country.
In group E, Ivory Coast had already secured a ticket for the World Cup but ended their qualifying campaign on a high note with a 3-0 victory over Guinea.
Full story and link can be found at:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/uruguay-sitting-pretty-for-cup-berth-20091116-igkl.html
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