Jordan 0 - Uruguay 0

Photo by Daniel Caselli

The final qualifier for the 2014 FIFA World Cup took place before a very confident, joyous, and relaxed crowd in Montevideo.  Such a crowd atmosphere is not typical for the second leg of an intercontinental playoff series, but hosts Uruguay were ahead 5-0 on aggregate against visiting Jordan.  Fans of La Celeste were expecting tonight to be nothing more than a glorious victory lap for their side.  As expected, the match got off to an extremely slow start with the outcome of the series all but decided before kickoff.  At the end of the half, Uruguay really should have grabbed the lead on a corner kick play.  Edinson Cavani headed from fifteen yards out toward goal.  Diego Lugano (pictured, blue #2) flicked on to the goal line, from where his fellow centerback Diego Godin somehow managed to head the ball off the crossbar rather than into the Jordanian goal.  The half ended as it began, 0-0.

A fast exchange required a kick save from Jordan goalkeeper Mohamad Shatnawi (pictured, black).  On the hour mark, Uruguay really should have nudged ahead, but Lugano missed a free header from six yards out on a corner kick.  Jordan actually had a chance to get ahead, but Lugano blocked a shot from the penalty spot by Ahmad Ibrahim.  Cavani had a chance with his last kick of the ball before being substituted off, but Shatnawi made a safe grab.  Uruguay really only looked threatening on corner kicks on this rather relaxed night.  Jordan hang on for a credible 0-0 draw on the road against a South American power.  Jordan are nevertheless the final team to be eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup, falling by a 5-0 aggregate scoreline.  For the second straight tournament, Uruguay are the last of the thirty-two teams to qualify for the FIFA World Cup finals.

Match Reports:
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/11/20/uruguay-vs-jordan-2014-fifa-world-cup-playoff-qualified/
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/uruguay-0-0-jordan-world-cup-qualifier-second-leg-match-report-goalless-draw-centenario-112013
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2227242/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_1
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2510938/Uruguay-0-Jordan-0-agg-5-0--Luis-Suarez-books-World-Cup-ticket-South-Americans-progress.html

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZayay7ROBw