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Venezuela rally to grab a point in Uruguay

Colombia’s Hugo Rodallega, rear, scores past Peru goalkeeper Leao Butron during their World Cup 2010 qualifying match in Lima, Peru, on Saturday. The match finished in a 1-1 draw. PHOTO: AP

Venezuela stole a precious point when they came from behind to hold Uruguay to a 1-1 draw away from home in Saturday’s World Cup qualifier.

Captain Diego Lugano gave Uruguay an early lead, but midfielder Ronald Vargas, who scored in last week’s 2-0 friendly win over Brazil, salvaged a point for Venezuela after a mistake by Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

Venezuela, the only South American team never to have played at the World Cup, have seven points from five games in the South American group, while Uruguay, held by Chile in their previous home game, have five.

Uruguay fielded a three-man attack and nearly scored when Maximiliano Pereira’s deflected shot was well saved by Renny Vega.

The hosts went ahead from the resulting corner when Sebastian Abreu rose at the far post and his header was turned in from close range by Fenerbahce defender Lugano in the 12th minute.

On a badly-worn, bumpy Centenario pitch, Uruguay continued to press but were denied by Vega who stopped a Martin Caceres shot and Abreu header before halftime.

The visitors equalized in the 55th minute from their first real chance when Carini failed to hold Juan Arango’s long-range free kick and Vargas followed up to fire the rebound into the roof of the net.

Uruguay ran out of ideas and nearly conceded an own goal when Caceres turned Arango’s pass just wide of his own goal.

But they nearly snatched a late winner when substitute Vicente Sanchez fired against the crossbar after Venezuela failed to clear a looping Diego Perez cross.

Meanwhile in Lima, Peru drew with neighbors Colombia 1-1, keeping the door open for their first finals appearance since 1982.

Hugo Rodallegas scored off a deflected shot by Colombia teammate Fabian Vargas in the seventh minute.

But Juan Carlos Marino answered for Peru in the 39th minute, hammering a shot past Colombia’s Agustin Julio to the roar of the 35,000 fans at the Monumental Stadium.

The draw moves Peru into a tie with Ecuador for eighth place in the qualifiers, with 3 points. Colombia are tied with Argentina for second on nine points.

Peru played the game minus four of their top players, including Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro and Jefferson Farfan, recently signed to Germany’ Schalke 04. The players were suspended in December for holding a hotel party two days before Peru lost 5-1 to Ecuador during a World Cup qualifier match in November.

Peru head to Montevideo tomorrow to take on Uruguay.
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