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FOOTBALL

Rodriguez gives Uruguay advantage

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Rodriguez celebrates the goal that gives Uruguay a narrow adavantage

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay -- Dario Rodriguez headed a first-half goal to give Uruguay a 1-0 win over Australia in their World Cup playoff first leg.

In a tense match, Uruguay missed numerous chances to add to their score, with visiting goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer making a superb second-half stop from Richard Morales.

Australia were close to a precious away goal as Mark Viduka and Jason Culina came within a whisker of a second-half equaliser ahead of the second leg in Sydney on Wednesday.

Both coaches said their teams deserved a better result.

"We could have won by more," said Uruguay's Jorge Fossati. "We'll be back with the qualification. I want all the Uruguayans to believe in it in spite of everything."

Australia's Dutch coach Guus Hiddink said: "I think I have mixed feelings because we controlled the first half rather completely.... We should have had in the first half at least one goal. That was a pity."

Australia's fears of a hostile reception were realised as the 60,000 crowd greeted their appearance on the field with a deafening chorus of jeers and booed their national anthem.

The hosts, meanwhile, got the traditional reception of ticker-tape and firecrackers to help their bid to reach the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

Australia, playing at the stadium where their dreams of reaching the 2002 World Cup ended in a 3-0 defeat four years ago, started confidently.

Viduka chipped wide after working an opening on the left of the penalty area, then brought a superb save from Fabian Carini when his 30-meter free kick was tipped over the bar.

Uruguay suffered an early blow when Diego Forlan, passed fit at the last minute after suffering a hamstring injury, hobbled off in the 18th minute and was replaced by Dario Silva.

Alvaro Recoba's free kicks were Uruguay's main threat as he forced Schwarzer into his first difficult save with a 30-meter effort, then produced the goal with an inswinger that Rodriguez met with a diving far post header eight minutes from the break.

Hiddink thought he free kick should have gone the other way.

"In my opinion, the linesman took a decision to give a free kick in our favour but he dropped his flag, I think it broke, and the referee took over and gave it the other way," he said.

The second half was non-stop action, beginning when Viduka hooked the ball wide on the turn from Scott Chipperfield's cross followed by a Brett Emerton shot that was deflected wide.

Uruguay took control and the last half hour was nerve-wracking for the visitors.

They claimed a penalty when Recoba appeared to be tripped by Schwarzer as he chased the ball in the 59th minute but Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen waved play on amid furious protests.

Recoba's free kicks and the aerial threat of Richard Morales caused Australia endless problems and they force Schwarzer into a string of desperate saves, including one where he denied Morales at point-blank range.

In between, Culina shaved the post with a low show from outside the area to the relief of the home crowd.

As Uruguay pressed for a second goal, Schwarzer made another inspired save by palming away Recoba's attempted chip.

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