A terrible blunder by Australian goalkeeper Brad Jones on his debut gifted Uruguay a 2-1 victory in a lively international friendly at Telstra Stadium on Saturday.
Jones came for a routine cross 13 minutes from time only to drop the ball into the path of Alvaro Recoba, who headed into an empty net to ensure the South Americans enjoyed a measure of revenge for their World Cup play-off exit at the same ground in November 2005.
Australia had taken an early lead through Mile Sterjovski before Diego Forlan replied for the visitors five minutes before the break. Jones' mistake then condemned Australia to a first home defeat in a full international since 2004.
It was a cruel end for the Socceroos, who fielded seven players making their first international appearances on home soil in a game that formed part of preparations for their AFC Asian Cup bow next month.
Australia started the more purposeful of the two sides and a crowd of 61,795 saw the home side take the lead in the seventh minute after a delightful ball from Luke Wilkshire set Brett Emerton free down the right flank.
The Blackburn Rovers defender whipped a first time cross into the box and Stervjovski, after a couple of blocked attempts, eventually slammed the ball home from close range.
Defender Michael Thwaite was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for his dangerous lunge at Pablo Garcia shortly afterwards before Vicente Sanchez's header smacked the crossbar with 21 minutes gone, but the Uruguay striker was ruled marginally offside.
Carlos Diogo then picked up a yellow card for a tackle on Sterjovski before defender Andres Scotti limped off with a hamstring strain.
The dangerous Recoba almost created an equaliser in the 36th minute when his free-kick picked out Diego Lugano, but the skipper's header flashed just wide of Jones' right-hand post.
Four minutes later, however, Recoba and Forlan combined to put the South Americans back on level terms as the Internazionale midfielder's ball across the box bisected Jones and defender Patrick Kisnorbo and the Villarreal striker slotted home at the back post
Dario Rodriguez then brought a good save from Jones, who palmed away the defender's goal-bound header after it had taken a deflection off Lucas Neill as the sides went in level at half-time.
The match tightened up after the break with chances hard to come by.
The Socceroos' best opportunity of the second period came in the 64th minute when a great ball from Emerton allowed striker Scott McDonald to find Ryan Griffiths in space down the wing.
The 25-year-old forward had the unmarked McDonald and Archie Thompson to aim for in the middle but his pass was intercepted and the chance lost.
Rodriguez nearly put Uruguay in front a minute later but his shot hit a defender and looped onto the roof of the net.
And Uruguay were struggling to find a way through Australia's well-organised defence until Jones gift-wrapped them the winner in the 77th minute to ensure Graham Arnold's side went away empty-handed.
Australia had taken an early lead through Mile Sterjovski before Diego Forlan replied for the visitors five minutes before the break. Jones' mistake then condemned Australia to a first home defeat in a full international since 2004.
It was a cruel end for the Socceroos, who fielded seven players making their first international appearances on home soil in a game that formed part of preparations for their AFC Asian Cup bow next month.
Australia started the more purposeful of the two sides and a crowd of 61,795 saw the home side take the lead in the seventh minute after a delightful ball from Luke Wilkshire set Brett Emerton free down the right flank.
The Blackburn Rovers defender whipped a first time cross into the box and Stervjovski, after a couple of blocked attempts, eventually slammed the ball home from close range.
Defender Michael Thwaite was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card for his dangerous lunge at Pablo Garcia shortly afterwards before Vicente Sanchez's header smacked the crossbar with 21 minutes gone, but the Uruguay striker was ruled marginally offside.
Carlos Diogo then picked up a yellow card for a tackle on Sterjovski before defender Andres Scotti limped off with a hamstring strain.
The dangerous Recoba almost created an equaliser in the 36th minute when his free-kick picked out Diego Lugano, but the skipper's header flashed just wide of Jones' right-hand post.
Four minutes later, however, Recoba and Forlan combined to put the South Americans back on level terms as the Internazionale midfielder's ball across the box bisected Jones and defender Patrick Kisnorbo and the Villarreal striker slotted home at the back post
Dario Rodriguez then brought a good save from Jones, who palmed away the defender's goal-bound header after it had taken a deflection off Lucas Neill as the sides went in level at half-time.
The match tightened up after the break with chances hard to come by.
The Socceroos' best opportunity of the second period came in the 64th minute when a great ball from Emerton allowed striker Scott McDonald to find Ryan Griffiths in space down the wing.
The 25-year-old forward had the unmarked McDonald and Archie Thompson to aim for in the middle but his pass was intercepted and the chance lost.
Rodriguez nearly put Uruguay in front a minute later but his shot hit a defender and looped onto the roof of the net.
And Uruguay were struggling to find a way through Australia's well-organised defence until Jones gift-wrapped them the winner in the 77th minute to ensure Graham Arnold's side went away empty-handed.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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