Uruguay 5 - Jordan 0

Photo by Jack Guez

Uruguay made the long trek across the globe to get to Amman in time to face their hosts Jordan in the first leg of their intercontinental playoff series.  The match started off slowly as the two sides were feeling each other out having never faced each other previously.  At the quarter hour mark, Oday Al-Saify created a chance when his cross floated right at the near post, forcing a diving save across his momentum by Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Silva.  It would be Uruguay who would score first, however.  A Cristian Stuani cross to Edinson Cavani at the back post led to a header that was saved by Jordan goalkeeper Mohamed Al-Shatnawi.  No Jordan defenders crashed on the follow up rebound, so Maxi Pereira was free to clean up the rebound and score the opener.  Egidio Arevalo Rios was the player of the half for the visitors as he cut out so many Jordan attacks from his position in the midfield.  Nicolas Lodeiro played a through ball to Stuani that just defied a sliding block attempt fromr Al-Saify.  Once the ball got through, Stuani popped it into the next to double the lead.  Uruguay would be pleased to be ahead 2-0 at the halftime whistle.

For the first half of the second period, Jordan were the completely dominant team.  A cross in from Adnan Adous beat the two defenders around Ahmad Hayel, but Hayel somehow pushed wide with the goal at his mercy.  After the Hayel miss, Jordan just could not seem to complete the final probing passes necessary to break down the Uruguayan defense.  One can only imagine how things would have turned out differently for Jordan had they made it 2-1.  Cavani ran all the way to the endline and dragged Al-Shatnawi out of position.  Cavani then cut a pass back upfield, and Lodeiro chipped into the vacant net for 3-0.  Substitute Alvaro Pereira hit a long, floating ball over the Jordanian defense, which had overplayed to its right flank in response to his run.  Cristian Rodriguez was open on the other side, and had time to trap with his chest before blasting a ball into the bottom corner for Uruguay's fourth goal.  A Thaer Bawab ball into Hayel was cut out at the last moment by a Diego Lugano slide, preserving the shutout with five minutes to go.  In the penultimate minute of regulation, a late chance for Diego Forlan was parried out for a corner kick by Al-Shatnawi.  In stoppage time, a high-boot challenge from Adous led to a free kick chance from nineteen yards away.  Cavani hit an amazing curling free kick that went from outside the far post back on frame into the upper ninety.  Uruguay record a massive 5-0 victory and will come home next week to face Jordan in what will amount to a party to celebrate their qualification for Brasil 2014.

Goals
Uruguay
Maxi Pereira 22
Cristian Stuani 42
Nicolas Lodeiro 69
Cristian Rodriguez 78
Edinson Cavani 90+2

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/newsid=2223500/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_caption
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/jordans-world-cup-dream-in-tatters-after-uruguay-thrashing
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/13/uruguay-jordan-world-cup-playoff

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW2LmhI7ln4