Natal: Uruguay captain Diego Godin’s late strike against 10-man Italy sent his team into the last-16 of the World Cup here on Tuesday and knocked their opponents out of the tournament in the opening stages for the second edition in a row.
Godin’s goal off a corner in the 81st minute was enough for the 2010 semifinalists to progress in the competition after a fiercely fought battle against the Italians in a match witnessing flared tempers, rough tackles and a moment when Giorgio Chiellini accused Luis Suarez of biting him.
The result meant Uruguay finished second in Group D behind Costa Rica, who drew 0-0 with England in Belo Horizonte.
Both Italy and Uruguay, knowing the importance of the game, started cautiously.
The Azurri had the better of the possession in the first 45 minutes but they failed to attack the opposition goal consistently.
The first half also saw plenty of rough tackles including the one involving Mario Balotelli, who was shown a yellow card for the second time in the group stages after a hard challenge against midfielder Alvaro Perreira.
The Italian stiker’s form and behaviour on the field led to Marco Parolo replacing him at the break.
Uruguay star forward Suarez, who took the field despite concerns over his fitness, kept himself in the game with couple of shots on the target.
The Italians, however, defended well to keep their opponents at bay.
The action heated up further in the second half.
The Italians were down to 10 men in the 59th minute when midfielder Claudio Marchisio was handed a red card for nastily pushing Egidio Arevalo to the ground.
Uruguay expectedly stepped up the pressure on the now vulnerable Italian outfit but failed to find the breakthrough with the clock ticking past the 80th minute.
The South Americans, however, were not to be denied in the 81st when Godin used his shoulder to score the winner.
Suarez could not score this time but was in the spotlight for the wrong reason.
Two minutes before Uruguay found the goal, the star forward leaned towards Chiellini in the box.
Soon after the incident, Chiellini was seen indicating to the referee that Suarez bitten him, although the Uruguayan fell to the ground clutching at his mouth to indicate that he had collided accidentally with the Italian.
No action was taken by the officials.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica drew 0-0 with England to top Group D unbeaten and leave their opponents without a win and an early flight home on Tuesday in Belo Horizonte.
England had chances to rescue something form a terrible campaign but Daniel Sturridge sent both shots wide.
Costa Rica, who only made the last-16 on one other occasion in 1990, defied the tag of minnows and outsiders in the group to beat both Uruguay and Italy. Uruguay seized second spot with a 1-0 win against 10-man Italy in Natal.
The first half offered up few chances of note England’s Daniel Sturridge going closest with a fine effort that curled just the wrong side of the post. Costa Rica did test England goalkeeper Ben Foster on one occasion as Celso Borges’ long distance freekick forced him to leap to tip the ball over the bar.
England pressed hard from the start with Costa Rica’s impressive goalkeeper Keylor Navas getting down bravely to thwart Sturridge and then saving well from Southampton winger Adam Lallana.
Sturridge should have given England the lead in the 65th minute as Jack Wilshere’s beautifully weighted pass into the area saw the Liverpool striker run on to it but he sent the ball past the far post.
England coach Roy Hodgson sent on veterans Steven Gerrard – probably for his last appearance in an England shirt – and Wayne Rooney in a bid to grab a late win but it was all in vain as the Costa Ricans held them at bay. (Agencies)