Sports Desk: Uruguay secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Colombia in a 2026 World Cup South American qualifier, thanks to a last-minute goal in the 101st minute.
The win saw Uruguay leapfrog Colombia into second place in the standings, moving within reach of the top spot. This marks their first win in four matches under coach Marcelo Bielsa.
The match took place early Saturday morning (Bangladesh time) at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, with Colombia initially taking the lead.
In the 31st minute, Juan Fernando Quintero put the visitors ahead with a well-taken goal, giving Colombia a 1-0 advantage.
However, Uruguay bounced back in the second half. In the 57th minute, a disastrous own goal by Colombia’s Davinson Sánchez leveled the score at 1-1.
Just three minutes later, Uruguay took the lead when Rodrigo Aguirre scored in the 60th minute to make it 2-1.
Colombia responded in the 96th minute with a goal from Andrés Gómez, bringing the score to 2-2 and setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
But in the dying moments of the match, Uruguay’s Manchester United star, Manuel Ugarte, stunned the Colombian supporters with a close-range shot that found the back of the net, securing a 3-2 win for the hosts.
With this victory, Uruguay moves to 19 points from 11 matches, climbing to second place in the South American World Cup qualifying table.
Argentina leads the standings with 22 points, while Colombia, also on 19 points, drops to third due to a lower goal difference. Brazil sits fourth with 17 points.
South American World Cup Qualifier Standings:
1. **Argentina** – 22 points
2. **Uruguay** – 19 points
3. **Colombia** – 19 points (lower goal difference)
4. **Brazil** – 17 points