07 September 2004	Tuesday	21 Rajab 1425

RIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 6: Uruguay put their World Cup qualifying campaign back on course with a controversial 1-0 win over Ecuador on Sunday while Chile and Colombia shared four red cards and no goals in a grim encounter.

Brazil eased past Bolivia 3-1, a first-minute Ronaldo goal thwarting the visitor's plans to frustrate the world champions with a packed defence, while Paraguay defender Carlos Gamarra added to his Olympic silver medal by scoring the winner against Venezuela.

Brazil lead the 10-nation South American group with 16 points from eight games as the tournament nears it's halfway stage. Argentina, 3-1 winners over Peru on Saturday, follow with 15 and Paraguay on 14.

Chile are next with 12 and only four points separates them from ninth-placed Colombia (8), with Ecuador, Venezuela and Uruguay (all 10) and Peru (9) sandwiched in between.

Bolivia (6) prop up the table. The top four qualify directly for Germany and the fifth plays off against the Oceania region winners for another place. Uruguay, beaten in their last three qualifiers, bounced back in Montevideo to win with a 58th minute Carlos Bueno header which was palmed away by goalkeeper Edwin Villafuerte only for the referee to rule the ball had crossed the line.

Chile and Colombia were involved in arguably the worst of the more than 40 qualifiers played world wide this weekend as their Santiago stalemate produced more red cards than scoring chances.

Brazil's match in Sao Paulo was a happier affair especially after Ronaldo's lightning strike, his seventh goal of the qualifiers. Ronaldinho made it 2-0 from a penalty in the 13th minute and Adriano headed the third just before halftime.

Bolivia goalkeeper Leo Fernandez bravely kept Brazil at bay in the second half with some outstanding saves while Luis Cristaldo pulled one back. Paraguay kept up their challenge for a third successive World Cup appearance by beating Venezuela. Gamarra, 33, outfoxed the Venezuela defence to head the 53rd minute winner.

RESULTS:

PLAYED ON SUNDAY:

Paraguay 1 Venezuela 0

Chile 0 Colombia 0

Uruguay 1 Ecuador 0

Brazil 3 Bolivia 1

ON SATURDAY:

Peru 1 Argentina 3. -Reuters