Uruguay came back from a very adverse score Tuesday to obtain a valuable, last-minute 2-2 draw away in Bolivia, in the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
At an altitude of 3,600 metres in La Paz, which invariably proves difficult for Bolivia's visitors, striker Marcelo Martins put the host ahead 2-0, with goals in the 14th and the
42nd minutes.
However, Uruguayan strikers neutralized the result with two headers. In the absence of star Diego Forlan, Carlos Bueno put Uruguay back into the game in the 63rd minute, while the veteran Sebastian Abreu sealed the definitive 2-2 just three minutes before the end of the match.
"We got this draw with strength, drive and courage," said Uruguayan captain Diego Lugano.
Paraguay remain the leaders at the half-way point in the qualifiers, with 20 points in nine matches. Brazil and Argentina follow with 16 points, while Chile and Uruguay have
13 points (the latter from 10 games) and Ecuador is on 12.
In South America's 10-team World Cup qualifiers, each side plays each of the other nine teams at home and away.
The top four win a place in the World Cup. The fifth-place team has a chance to advance if it wins a playoff against a representative of the North, Central American and Caribbean region.
The tenth round of the South American qualifiers is set to continue Wednesday, with Paraguay-Peru, Chile-Argentina, Venezuela-Ecuador and Brazil-Colombia.
A break in the qualifying round will follow, with the next games to be played late March.
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