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Australia–Uruguay football rivalry

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Australia–Uruguay soccer rivalry
Aloisi taking the penalty that secured the victory over Uruguay and Australia's place in the 2006 World Cup
Other namesSocceroos vs La Celeste (The Sky Blue)
LocationAustralia (AFC)
Uruguay (CONMEBOL)
Teams Australia men's
 Uruguay men's
First meetingMen:
Australia 0-0 Uruguay
(24 April 1974)
Latest meetingMen:
Australia 1–2 Uruguay
(1 June 2007)[1]
Statistics
Meetings totalMen: 9
All-time seriesMen:
 Australia: 4
 Uruguay: 4
Draws: 1
Largest victoryMen:
Uruguay 3–0 Australia
(25 November 2001)
Australia–Uruguay football rivalry is located in Earth
Australia
Australia
Uruguay
Uruguay

The Australia–Uruguay association football rivalry is a historical rivalry between the Australian and Uruguayan national teams that dates back to 1974[2][3] when Uruguay travelled to Australia for a 2-game series before Australia departed for the 1974 FIFA World Cup. Despite Australia performing well in both matches, they were marred with foul play by the Uruguayans, which left Australian forward Ray Baartz suffering a stroke after having his carotid artery damaged following an incident with Luis Garisto.[4] The incident caused Baartz to miss the World Cup and retire from the game for health concerns. Between 2001 and 2005 the rivalry would come to the forefront of Australian and Uruguayan relations as both nations played each other in consecutive FIFA World Cup play-off matches. Uruguay would win the 2001 play-offs for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, whilst Australia would win the 2005 play offs for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, which has been called the best moment in Australian sporting history as Australia qualified for the World Cup finals for the first time in 32 years.[5][6] To date, the two nations' women's national teams are yet to play each other.

History

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Luke Wilkshire preparing to take a free kick during the 2007 friendly

Men's

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Both Australia and Uruguay had qualified for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. For Australia, it would be their first ever qualification.[7] Uruguay travelled to Australia for a pre-tournament 2-game series at Olympic Park in Melbourne and the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney. The match in Melbourne ended in a 0–0 draw which was noted for the aggressively physical play by the Uruguayans with Australian manager Rale Rasic referring to the Uruguayans' antics as "dirty".[8] The following match in Sydney in front of a crowd of 27,500 would be marred with physicality not experienced by Australian footballers to this point. During the first half of the game with the scores locked at 0–0 Uruguayan player Luis Garisto felled Australian striker Ray Baartz with what was described as a karate chop to Barrtz's neck[9][6] which Garisto went unpunished for. Following a few minutes of treatment Baartz resumed play. After scoring the first and providing the assist for Australia's second goal, Uruguays play would become more violent and spiteful, culminating in Garisto punching Baartz in the jaw following some banter. To make it look like Baartz had attacked Garisto, a fellow Uruguayan player punched Garisto in the face which drew blood. The referee threatened to abandon the game, however Australia held on for a 2–0 victory.[10] Following the match, Baartz started showing signs of a stroke following the attack to his neck and was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital where doctors placed in him in intensive care having lost consciousness for two days.[6][8] Whilst Baartz would survive the stroke and return to full health, due to the severe extend of his injuries he would retire from all forms of the game at just 27 years old[11] following doctors advice that another severe blow to his neck may kill him.

It would be 18 years before the two nations would meet again when Australia played a 3-game 'goodwill tour' of South America. Uruguay would win 2–1 in front of 18,000 strong crowd in Montevideo[12]

Australia and Uruguay would meet for a fourth time during the semi finals of the 1997 Confederations Cup in Saudi Arabia. With the scores locked at 0–0 at full time, the match went to golden goal. Two minutes into the golden goal period, young Australian striker Harry Kewell scored the winning goal with a shot from 25 meters, propelling Australia into the final against Brazil.[13]

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off)

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The 2002 FIFA World Cup OFC–CONMEBOL qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the fifth-placed team from the South American qualifying tournament, Uruguay. The games were played on 20 November and 25 November 2001 in Melbourne and Montevideo respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Uruguay since 1990.

The first leg was held at the MCG in Melbourne and finished with Australia defeating Uruguay 1–0, courtesy of a second half penalty converted by Kevin Muscat.[14]

The return leg in Uruguay was marred with controversy from the moment Australia landed in the country. A lynch mob which had been organized by a private citizens, confronted the Australian national team as they made their way from the airport terminal to their bus.[15] The mob spat, assaulted, and abused the players and coaching staff with death threats[16] resulting in the Australians being kept in their hotel rooms for the 3-days prior to the match.[17] The antics which were believed to have unsettled Australia ahead of the game worked, as Australia crashed to a 3–0 defeat. Goals from Darío Silva, and a brace from Richard Morales sealed a 3–1 aggregate victory and ultimately qualification for the 2002 FIFA World Cup for the South Americans.[18]

2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL–OFC play-off)

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Australia v Uruguay 2005 World Cup qualifier at Stadium Australia

The two nations would meet again in consecutive World Cup Qualification play-offs in 2005 for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. The first leg was held in Montevideo with security bolstered for the Australian team following the incidents during the 2002 playoff.[19] Uruguay won the first leg 1–0, courtesy of a goal from Darío Rodríguez in the 37th minute[20] Australia, led by Dutch coach Guus Hiddink had learned their lesson from the previous World Cup cycle, not being baited even when Uruguayan legend Álvaro Recoba claimed Uruguay had a "divine right" to play in the World Cup.[21] Following the loss, the Australian team flew to the second leg in Sydney on a chartered Qantas flight which had been modified so that the Australian players could recover from the first leg in-flight,[22] whereas the Uruguay team were forced to endure a multi-leg commercial flights.[23]

Recoba created controversy ahead of the World Cup qualifiers by saying Uruguay had a divine right to qualify

The second leg match at Stadium Australia in Sydney was a tight affair, with Mark Bresciano scoring the games only goal after 90 minutes, sending the match into Extra Time with the scores locked at 1–1 on aggregate. The match would go to penalties, with Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer saving two penalties. John Aloisi scored the winning penalty to send Australia through to the World Cup for the first time in 32 years.[24]

In 2019, CONMEBOL invited Australia to compete in the 2020 Copa América.[25] The Socceroos were drawn in the south zone of the tournament, and were to play Uruguay along with Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia.[26] The COVID-19 pandemic forced CONMEBOL to delay the tournament to 2021, with Australia withdrawing its wildcard berth due to scheduling conflicts with its 2022 World Cup qualification campaign.[27]

Men's Matches

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As of 1 April 2024

Australia and Uruguay have played 9 official matches. Both nations have won 4 matches a piece, with one draw. Uruguay holds the record of the biggest win, during their 3–0 victory in 2001. Australia has scored 6 goals, whilst Uruguay have scored 8 goals.

 Australia wins
 Uruguay wins
Draws
Competition Date Home Team Result Away Team Home scorers Away scorers Venue Attendance
Friendly 24 April 1974 Australia 0–0 Uruguay Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia 20,283
Friendly 27 April 1974 Australia 2–0 Uruguay Baartz 59' Ollerton 85' Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia 25,708
Friendly 21 June 1992 Uruguay 2–0 Australia Martínez 63' Larrea 84' Montevideo, Uruguay 18,000
1997 FIFA Confederations Cup 19 December 1997 Uruguay 0–1 Australia Kewell gold-colored soccer ball 92' King Fahd II Stadium, Riyadh 22,000
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off) 20 November 2001 Australia 1–0 Uruguay Muscat 79' (pen) MCG, Melbourne 84,656
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (OFC–CONMEBOL play-off) 25 November 2001 Uruguay 3–0 Australia Silva 14' Morales 70', 90' Estadio Centenario, Montevideo 62,000
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL–OFC play-off) 12 November 2005 Uruguay 1–0 Australia Rodríguez 37' Estadio Centenario, Montevideo 55,000
2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL–OFC play-off) 16 November 2005 Australia 1–0
(4–2 pens) 		Uruguay Bresciano 35' Stadium Australia, Sydney 82,698
Friendly 1 June 2007 Australia 1–2 Uruguay Sterjovski 6' Forlán 40' Recoba 77' Stadium Australia, Sydney 61,725
2020 Copa América 13 June 2020 Australia cancelled Uruguay Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba

Overall summary

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As of 1 April 2024
Men's Team GP W D L GF GA GD
Australia Australia 9 4 1 4 6 8 −2
Uruguay Uruguay 9 4 1 4 8 6 +2

Top scorers

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As of 1 April 2024

Players in bold are still available for selection.

Rank Player Team Goals
1 Richard Morales  Uruguay 2
2 6 goalscorers  Australia 1
6 goalscorers  Uruguay 1

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Jones blunder hands Uruguay victory". ABC News. Reuters. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. ^ Arciuli, Adrian (1 June 2018). "World Cup Fans: The ex-Socceroo supporting Uruguay and Australia". SBS News. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  3. ^ "Anyone but England? For me it's anyone but Uruguay". The Roar. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. ^ Schwab, Laurie (30 November 2022). "Flashback: The 1974 World Cup, Australia arrives on the world stage". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  5. ^ Paine, Chris. "A decade in sport: 10 milestone moments". ABC News. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  6. ^ a b c Daffey, Paul (19 November 2005). "Moments in time". The Age. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  7. ^ Uruguay v. Australia : qualifiers for FIFA World Cup 1974 final tournament. Australian Soccer Federation. 27 April 1974.
  8. ^ a b "Melbourne Olympic Park, Australia – Uruguay: 0–0". aktsc.de. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  9. ^ "Ray Baartz Hall of Fame". Sports Australia Hall of Fame. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  10. ^ Esamie, Thomas; Stock, Greg; Cazal, Jean-Michel. "1974 Australia Men's National Team Results". Researched by Doug Butcher, Kevin Christopher and John Punshon. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  11. ^ Gardiner, James (30 April 2014). "Ray Baartz reflective over stolen opportunity". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Socceroo Internationals for 1992". OzFootball. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Socceroos storm into Confederation Cup final". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  14. ^ Hughes, Rob (21 November 2001). "Uruguay Loses First-Leg Playoff in Battle for Berth in World Cup : Muscat's Penalty Lifts Australia". New York Times. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  15. ^ Lynch, Michael (9 November 2017). "Honduran hell? Sounds like a picnic for the Socceroos compared to Montevideo". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  16. ^ Brown, Michael (13 November 2005). "Soccer: Stage set for bitter rematch between Australia and Uruguay". NZ Herald. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Socceroos keen to dodge Uruguay mob". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 October 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  18. ^ Fahey, Jessica (26 November 2001). "Australia's world is turned upside down once more". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Socceroos promised blanket security". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Australia Goes Down Narrowly In Montevideo". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Uruguay 'have divine right to play in Cup'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 14 November 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  22. ^ Connellan, Matthew (17 November 2015). "Lowy would have rather let Uruguay swim than share charter flight". SBS. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  23. ^ Howe, Andrew. "Stories of Australia's World Cup qualification: 2005". MyFootball. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  24. ^ Smith, Pete. "Ten years since Australia v Uruguay: the story of the Socceroos' greatest moment". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  25. ^ "Socceroos to join South American heavyweights at Copa America". ABC News. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Optus Sport". sport.optus.com.au. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Football Australia confirms Socceroos' withdrawal from Copa America | Socceroos". www.socceroos.com.au. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
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