November 27, 2001	Tuesday	Ramazan 11, 1422

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MONTEVIDEO, Nov 26: Uruguay became the 32nd and final country to get to next year’s World Cup finals when they inflicted a heart-breaking 3-0 defeat on Australia in the second leg of their playoff on Sunday.

A 3-1 aggregate scoreline left the hapless Socceroos to contemplate another failure in their attempts to add to their only appearance at the World Cup in 1974.

Dario Silva, playing only 12 days after dislocating his shoulder, broke through in the 14th minute as Uruguay, trailing 1-0 from the first leg, levelled the aggregate.

After both sides wasted a succession of chances, substitute Richard Morales headed a decisive goal in the 71st minute.

Morales, who spent two brief spells in police custody in the last year, added a third from close range in stoppage time to send the double ex-champions to their first World Cup finals since 1990.

It was a bitter pill for Australia, who lost 2-1 on aggregate to Argentina in a playoff for the 1994 World Cup and lost on away goals to Iran in another playoff for France ‘98. Left-back Tony Vidmar was in all three playoffs.

Australia’s last defeat in a qualifier since was in Argentina in 1993, 15 matches ago.

“Obviously, everyone is very, very disappointed,” said coach Frank Farina, who was in the 1993 team. “In terms of qualifying, this was the best position we have ever been in,” he said, referring to his team’s 1-0 lead from the first leg.

Morales said: “It has been a difficult year but the public gave me their support and that gave me more confidence.”

Uruguay dominated most of the match against the over-physical Socceroos, for whom only Harry Kewell shone. But Australia had an excellent patch early in the second half when a crucial away goal looked on the cards.

Any doubts about Silva’s fitness were dispelled in the 14th minute as Paolo Montero sent a long ball out of defense.

The Malaga striker fought off a challenge from Craig Moore and prodded the ball beyond goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to open the scoring.

Australia nearly grabbed an immediate equaliser when Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini had to make a world-class save to push away a header by Kewell.

Uruguay took control but missed the chance to finish off their unsettled and nervous opponents before the break.

Shaun Murphy made an acrobatic clearance off the line after Mario Regueiro had broken through the offside trap and pulled the ball back. Then Federico Magallanes wasted an excellent chance from 12 metres when he shot straight at Schwarzer.

Australia only threatened when Kewell got the ball. The Leeds United player was close with a 25-yard free kick and also created a golden chance for Mark Viduka, who shot weakly at Carini.

The visitors settled down after the break, restricting Uruguay to two long-range left-foot efforts from Gianni Guigou in the first quarter of an hour, both of which flew wide.

But as they took control of the midfield, Australia, like Uruguay in the first half, wasted a succession of chances.

The game changed dramatically when Nacional’s Morales - one of nine players who spent a week in custody after a brawl on the pitch at the same Centenario stadium — replaced the wasteful Magallanes in the 68th minute.

Three minutes later, Alvaro Recoba won a free kick on the left, floated the ball across and Morales — who subsequently spent a few more days in a police cell following a fight in a discotheque — headed home.

Australia pressed forward desperately and Carini pulled off another superb save to tip over a header by Moore.

Morales sealed Australia’s fate in injury time, scoring from close range after a Recoba breakaway.—Reuters