Soccer: Australia in with World Cup chance despite loss

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - Australia have given themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for next year's World Cup finals despite a 1-0 loss to Uruguay at the Estadio Centenario today.

A 37th-minute header from Dario Rodriguez proved the decider but two late saves from Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer could prove to be even more crucial in the two-legged tie which will be decided in the return leg at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Wednesday night.

Schwarzer pulled off a stunning save from a close-range Richard Morales strike in the 76th minute.

Then he thrust out a hand to deny Alvaro Recoba in the dying minutes to keep his side in the tie.

The winner of the tie on aggregate goals in both matches will qualify for the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

Uruguay threw everything at Australia in the second half but couldn't manage a second goal which would have made the Socceroos' task far more difficult at Telstra Stadium on Wednesday.

It was a dubious free kick for a challenge by Australian fullback Scott Chipperfield which led to Uruguay's goal.

Recoba, one of world football's best free-kick specialists, lobbed a pinpoint cross onto Rodriguez's head for the winning goal.

Australia came closest in the 12th minute when a Mark Viduka thunderbolt freekick was tipped away by Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini.

If Australia can conjure a two-goal win or better on Wednesday night, it will advance to its first World Cup finals appearance since 1974.

Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink fired a rocket at his side for not converting their general dominance into a better result on the scoreboard, and also criticised the free kick which cost Australia the match.

"I'm not satisfied. When you see the game, we dominated the first half completely. We were not determined enough to finish it off," he told SBS-TV.

"And we got a sloppy moment on a freekick, which I doubt was a freekick.

"From that freekick (Uruguay) got their goal. We played a very good game, but when you have a good game you have to finish it off.

"We know that they are very dangerous. They were not in the game, just on set pieces.

"I'm glad for the boys. They did very well.

"That's why I have mixed feelings, when you are so dominant, we have to at least make it a draw or one-nil. But it's a good result."

Hiddink said he expected Uruguay to play a defensive game on Wednesday.

"They will defend, they know to defend. But overall, we have everything in our own hands in Sydney," he said.

- AAP