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WEEKLY
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| Uruguay down Costa Rica to seize edge |
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Monday, November 16, 2009
SAN JOSE: Uruguay took a step toward the 2010 World Cup on Saturday as captain Diego Lugano’s first-half strike proved enough for a 1-0 victory in the first leg of their qualifying playoff against Costa Rica.
The second leg of the tie will be on Wednesday in Montevideo, where Costa Rica can expect to be hard pressed to turn things around.
Uruguay are hoping to return to the global football showcase after failing to qualify in 2006.
Costa Rica, who have appeared in the last 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 playoff by finishing fifth in South American qualifying.
In an often patchy first half, it was Uruguay who pressed the action forward. Costa Rica, unable to challenge Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera, were unlucky in the 20th minute when injury forced defender Gilberto Martinez off after a collision with Alvaro Fernandez.
While he was receiving treatment, Uruguay took full advantage as Diego Forlan came close to scoring with a center that crossed the face of the goal.
On the ensuing corner Forlan rose to head the ball, Costa Rica failed to clear the danger and Lugano seized upon the loose ball to slot it home in the 21st minute.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
