MONTEVIDEO (Reuters) – Manuel Ugarte scored a last-gasp winner to give Uruguay to a dramatic 3-2 home victory over Colombia at the Centenario Stadium in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Friday.
The Manchester United midfielder grabbed the winner from close-range 11 minutes into stoppage time to settle a thrilling contest and end Uruguay’s four-game winless streak in their campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Colombia opened the scoring just past the half-hour mark when attacking midfielder Juan Quintero sailed a stunning free-kick past the wall and into the net at the near post.
Uruguay hit back with two goals in a three minutes after the break, a cross coming off Colombia defender Davinson Sanchez and flying into his own net in the 57th minute before Rodrigo Aguirre edged the home side ahead with a smooth finish.
In a pulsating finish, Colombia levelled the scores again six minutes into stoppage time with a goal from substitute winger Andres Gomez, which was upheld after a lengthy VAR review.
Ugarte, however, found the net for the first time in international football to secure a victory that puts Uruguay second in the standings on 19 points.
Colombia also have 19 points but are third on goal difference, while Argentina remain leaders with 22 points despite a 2-1 loss at Paraguay on Thursday.
(Reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico City, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
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