Uruguay defeats Ecuador with a late goal.
Uruguay only had one chance on goal the whole game, but Pereiro's 92nd-minute header was enough to lift the host side above Ecuador and into third place in the 10-team South American qualifying group.
In Thursday’s World Cup qualifier in Montevideo, Gaston Pereiro scored in stoppage time to earn Uruguay a 1-0 victory over Ecuador.
Uruguay only had one chance on goal the whole game, but Pereiro’s 92nd-minute header was enough to lift the host side above Ecuador and into third place in the 10-team South American qualifying group.
Uruguay now leads the visitors by two points with 15 points. Brazil entered the day with a six-point lead over Argentina at the top of the table. Both teams are scheduled to meet later on Thursday.
The top four teams qualify for Qatar 2022 automatically, while the fifth-placed team competes in an inter-regional playoff.
Paraguay defeated Venezuela 2-1 at home in Asuncion, winning for the first time in seven qualifying matches.
With a magnificent 25-meter shot, Hector Martinez put Paraguay ahead in the seventh minute, and Alejandro Romero made it 2-0 a minute into the second half.
In stoppage time, Jhon Chancellor equalized for Venezuela.
Venezuela had lost their previous two games against Argentina and Peru, and they desperately needed a win, but they were no match for the Paraguayans, and they remain last in the South American qualification group.