<p>The two teams drew 1-1 at a packed Centenario stadium in Montevideo Wednesday in the return leg of a play-off between the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers and the fourth-placed of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.<br /><br />In the 69th minute, a header from veteran striker Sebastian Abreu, 33, appeared to give Uruguay a decisive lead before 65,000 spectators.<br /><br />However, the home side's joy was shortlived. Only four minutes later another veteran, Walter Centeno, 35, made the most of a rebound in the box to put Costa Rica back in the race.<br />In the end, however, Uruguay made the most of their 1-0 weekend win in San Jose and advanced to the 2010 World Cup.<br /><br />"This is priceless," a happy Abreu said after the game. "You always think that you could score the dream goal, the goal that can give you a World Cup qualification."<br /></p>.<p>Coach Oscar Tabarez was equally thrilled.<br /><br />"We are very, very satisfied about the fact that we could make it," he said. "When they drew, things got tough. They were one goal away from qualifying."<br /><br />Uruguay star Diego Forlan described qualification as a dream come true, but admitted that the South American side "suffered" on the pitch.<br /><br />The match was played in intense fog, and play was suspended for seven minutes in the second half amid clashes between Costa Rican substitutes and representatives of a television network that was broadcasting the game.<br /><br />Uruguay have won two editions of the prestigious global event, but they date back to 1930 and 1950. Recent times have been a lot more disappointing: of the past four editions of the prestigious tournament, they only played one, in 2002, and even then they crashed out in the first round of play.<br /><br />Now, they have the chance to write a fresh page in the country's World Cup history.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The two teams drew 1-1 at a packed Centenario stadium in Montevideo Wednesday in the return leg of a play-off between the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers and the fourth-placed of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.<br /><br />In the 69th minute, a header from veteran striker Sebastian Abreu, 33, appeared to give Uruguay a decisive lead before 65,000 spectators.<br /><br />However, the home side's joy was shortlived. Only four minutes later another veteran, Walter Centeno, 35, made the most of a rebound in the box to put Costa Rica back in the race.<br />In the end, however, Uruguay made the most of their 1-0 weekend win in San Jose and advanced to the 2010 World Cup.<br /><br />"This is priceless," a happy Abreu said after the game. "You always think that you could score the dream goal, the goal that can give you a World Cup qualification."<br /></p>.<p>Coach Oscar Tabarez was equally thrilled.<br /><br />"We are very, very satisfied about the fact that we could make it," he said. "When they drew, things got tough. They were one goal away from qualifying."<br /><br />Uruguay star Diego Forlan described qualification as a dream come true, but admitted that the South American side "suffered" on the pitch.<br /><br />The match was played in intense fog, and play was suspended for seven minutes in the second half amid clashes between Costa Rican substitutes and representatives of a television network that was broadcasting the game.<br /><br />Uruguay have won two editions of the prestigious global event, but they date back to 1930 and 1950. Recent times have been a lot more disappointing: of the past four editions of the prestigious tournament, they only played one, in 2002, and even then they crashed out in the first round of play.<br /><br />Now, they have the chance to write a fresh page in the country's World Cup history.<br /><br /></p>
