Uruguay revived their hopes in South American World Cup qualifying on Tuesday after defeating Venezuela 1-0.
The win marked Uruguay’s first in seven qualifiers, lifting the 2010 World Cup semi-finalists up to fifth in the nine-nation group, which would earn them a playoff should they maintain the position.
Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani scored the team’s only goal.
Cavani said that everyone is very happy and the truth is that it was a good game with a lot of sacrifices and it bore the fruit of three points making a dream of qualification green again.
Uruguay leapfrogged Venezuela, a well-drilled outfit looking to take their country to the finals for the first time in Brazil next year, on goal difference with four matches remaining.
Uruguayan player Diego Forlan said it was a fundamental win and the team is glad that they got three points and on the Venezuelan team he commended the team who are their rival as it was a fairly even game.
The Copa America holders had taken only two points from their previous six matches.
Despite the setback, the Venezuelan team remains confident of qualifying.
Venezuela’s Juan Arango said he and his teammates will raise their level of play in the upcoming matches.
The top four teams at the end of the qualifiers in October will go through to the Brazil finals. The fifth-place team, at present Uruguay on 16 points, will enter a playoff against an Asian qualifier in November for another spot.