Uruguay crushes Jordan

Amman: Uruguay looks almost certain to qualify for the next year’s World Cup in Brazil after registering a thumping 5-0 victory at Jordan on Wednesday in the first leg of their intercontinental play-off in the Jordanian capital on Wednesday.

Goals from Maxi Pereira, Cristian Stuani, Nicolas Lodeiro, Cristian Rodriguez and Edinson Cavani put Uruguay in a dominant position ahead of their home game in Montevideo next week.

Luis Suarez set up Pereira’s 22nd minute opener, and Stuani made it 2-0 just before the half-time interval.

Jordan had long spells of possession in the secondhalf but were vulnerable on the counter-attack, with Lodeiro slotting in from the edge of the box in the 69th minute and an unmarked Rodriguez hitting a crisp volley from close range in the 78th to all but push the game out of Jordan’s reach.

Cavani slotted a freekick into the top right corner of the net in stoppage time to complete the rout.