Colombia lost 2-0 to Uruguay Tuesday, but still remains on course to qualify for the play-offs and is just one point away from direct qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Had Colombia beaten Uruguay, they would’ve qualified automatically, but the Uruguayans proved unbeatable at home.
Both teams had chances before Edinson Cavani broke the deadlock in the 77th minute, gliding into the box between two defenders and latching on to a floated ball over the top for his 18th international goal.
Then, 3 minutes later, Cristian Stuari ensured the win by reacting quickest to a cross from Gaston Ramirez as Colombia’s defense went to sleep.
The result pushes Uruguay up into the 5th and final qualifying spot, 3 points ahead of Venezuela and with a game in hand.
Colombia remains in second place and can at least take something from the fact that rivals Ecuador failed to overcome Bolivia, leaving them 4 points behind.
With hosts Brazil already qualified, the top four teams from the nine-team group advance to next year’s World Cup automatically, while the team in fifth place will meet Jordan in a two-legged play-off in November.