An error from Livepool captain Steven Gerrard allowed half-fit Liverpool striker Luis Suarez give Uruguay a thrilling 2-1 win over England in Sao Paulo at the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Suarez had missed Uruguay’s shock 3-1 loss against Costa Rica in the opening Group D match and was a surprise inclusion in coach Oscar Tabarez’s starting line-up against England with his fitness still in doubt.
Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer however cleared those doubts by troubling the England defence, coming close to opening the scoring when Joe Hart had to be alert to punch clear his cornerkick drifting into goal.
Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney then saw a free-kick go just over the Uruguay bar before Cristian Rodriguez came close at the other end as his sliced shot from the edge of the area went just over the England crossbar.
Suarez’s Liverpool strike partner Daniel Sturridge forced a near-post save out of Fernando Muslera while Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani shot just over from a cornerkick.
Rooney should have broken the deadlock just past the half-hour mark but could only head a Steven Gerrard free-kick onto the crossbar from a yard out.
And Suarez would do better just before half-time, heading Uruguay ahead from four yards out after being picked out by a wonderful chipped pass from Cavani.
Suarez would have Hart at alert again four minutes into the second half, forcing the England keeper to keep out his cornerkick from drifting into goal.
Cavani would then squander a great chance to double Uruguay’s lead, shooting wide after Nicolas Lodeiro put him one-on-one with Hart.
Rooney forced a save out of Muslera in the 55tz minute at the other end as he continued his search for a first ever World Cup goal. Sturridge, who has one goal from the loss to Italy, also tested Muslera after the hour mark.
The goal however came finally for Rooney and England with 15 minutes to go, tapping home his first World Cup goal and 40th for England off a low cross from Liverpool full-back Glen Johnson.
Suarez however had the last laugh of a pulsating encounter six minutes from the end, pouncing on to a Gerrard back header intended for Hart to give Uruguay a crucial win.
The win puts Uruguay in third place on three points after two Group D games, level on points with Italy and Costa Rica who meet on Thursday.
England meanwhile remain without a point after two matches and will crash out of the World Cup if Costa Rica avoid defeat against Italy.