As Asia’s Brazil 2014 qualifying hopefuls Jordan where focusing on their campaign to reach the 2015 AFC Asian Cup with a home tie against Oman, Uruguay were taking on Argentina in Montevideo needing a victory to ensure they finished no lower than fifth in the nine-team South American qualification standings.
Edinson Cavani netted the match-winner five minutes into the second half after Maxi Rodriguez has twice pulled Argentina level (15th and 41st) following Cristian Rodriguez’s sixth-minute opener and a 34th minute penalty from Luis Suarez.
But Uruguay's win was not enough as Chile and Ecuador claimed the final automatic South American qualifying berths behind regional group winners Argentina and second-placed Colombia.
Saluting his team for a "dignified" end to their regional program, Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez indicated they must not take Jordan lightly, despite their rivals being ranked 73rd to their own seventh in FIFA’s global list.
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"Like all Uruguayans I hope we make it through (but) we would be very wrong to think Jordan cannot cause us problems," Tabarez warned.
November’s two-leg meeting with Jordan marks the fourth consecutive World Cup qualification playoff for Uruguay and although this represents the first meeting against an AFC member association they have face Australia twice prior to the Socceroos’ switch from Oceania to the Asian Football Confederation in 2006.
Uruguay defeated the Australia in the playoffs for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, the first to be hosted in Asia, before the Socceroos turned the tables on the South Americans with victory on penalties in the playoff for Germany 2006.
