Nov 30

Uruguay remain UFWC champions after Colombia draw

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Colombia 2-2 Uruguay

11 October 2016 Estadio Metropolitano, Barranquilla World Cup Qualifier Scorers: Aguilar, Mina (Colombia); Rodriguez, Suarez (Uruguay) Uruguay retained the unofficial football world championships title with this entertaining and hard-fought World Cup qualifier draw against Colombia. The UFWC champs came from behind, and negotiated a torrential rainstorm, then held strong as Colombia pushed for a winner. The draw allowed Brazil to overtake Uruguay at the top of the CONMEBOL WC qualifying table, but keeps both Uruguay and Colombia on course to qualify for Russia 2018. Colombia took the lead on a hot afternoon in Barranquilla, when Abel Aguilar headed in a 15th-minute corner following some untypically sloppy marking from Uruguay. Then the heavens opened, and the torrential rain seemed to help Uruguay - or at least cool them down in the heat. Colombia failed to clear a Carlos Sanchez free kick, and Cristian Rodriguez nodded past keeper David Ospina. In the second half, Uruguay sat back, inviting Colombia to press, and threatening to hit them on the break. And Uruguay did get that break in the 72nd minute, when Luis Suarez darted into the left channel, capitalised on a defensive slip, and drilled a superb low shot into the net. Colombia continued to press, though, and they got their equaliser with six minutes left on the clock, when 6'5" centre-back Yerry Mina finished a move he had started with a spectacular looping header into the top corner of the net. The draw means that Uruguay retain the UFWC title, but doesn't affect the UFWC rankings, leaving Uruguay in 10th place, and Colombia in 22nd. The UFWC resumes in less than a month's time, on 10 November, with matchday 11 of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying competition. Unofficial football world champions Uruguay host Ecuador, who have won two previous UFWC title matches - the last of which was back in 1965. Five days later, on 15 November, Uruguay go to Chile. (Ecuador host Venezuela.) You'll be able to follow the title matches right here. In the meantime, if you're new to the Unofficial Football World Championships you can find out all about the UFWC here. And you can keep up to date with all things UFWC by following us on Twitter or Facebook.