The two teams entered this clash separated by three points and two places in the table, with Uruguay knowing a win would put them within touching distance of qualification for next summer’s tournament. However, the first half was a tepid affair as both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, although the game was often played at a frantic pace.
Uruguay were the more dangerous, dominating territory and possession while Venezuela attempted to pounce on the counter-attack. The hosts’ best chances fell to Jose Maria Gimenez and Giorgian De Arrascaeta, but both failed to find the target from inside the penalty area.
At the other end, Miguel Navarro’s wayward attempt was the closest Venezuela came to troubling Santiago Mele between the sticks, and it looked as though the opening period would end without so much as a shot on target. Uruguay's Rodrigo Aguirre, though, had other ideas, heading Maximilian Araújo’s corner through Rafael Romo’s legs to give La Celeste the advantage at the interval.
In contrast to the first half, it didn’t take long for Uruguay to stamp their authority on the encounter after the break. They doubled their lead within five minutes of the restart courtesy of a De Arrascaeta stunner, with the midfielder firing home from outside the box after winning possession himself. Aguirre then had a shot saved from a dangerous position, while Romo tipped a Facundo Pellistri attempt from a tight angle over the crossbar.
After falling behind, Venezuela were forced to come out of their shell and be more proactive, but they were unable to threaten until the final few minutes, by which point it was too little, too late.
Uruguay, meanwhile, were happy to sit further back and counter themselves, often able to cause problems for the Venezuela backline. In the end, they had to make do with just the two goals, but the three points are welcome considering this is just a second victory in the last 11 games for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
For Fernando Batista’s team, they remain in the inter-confederation play-off spot, but they now sit just one point above Bolivia, and with difficult fixtures against Argentina and Colombia to come, they are up against it in their quest to reach the World Cup finals for the first time.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rodrigo Aguirre (Uruguay)