Ugarte's Last-Minute Goal Boosts Uruguay Over Colombia 3-2

In a stunning turn of events, Manchester United’s Manuel Ugarte netted a memorable winner in the 101st minute, securing a vital 3-2 victory for Uruguay against Colombia during South American World Cup qualifying. The 23-year-old midfielder has become an essential player for Uruguay since transferring from Sporting CP, and he scored in the final moments of stoppage time, putting an end to his team's frustrating streak of four matches without a win. This marked Ugarte's first international goal in 27 appearances, a timely strike that propelled his team into second place in the 2026 World Cup qualifying standings, just three points behind Argentina.

The match unfolded as a captivating spectacle marked by intense drama, starting with Colombia taking an early advantage through a superb free-kick by Juan Quintero. Uruguay, however, came alive in the second half, netting two rapid goals within a span of just three minutes. The first was an unfortunate own goal by Colombia's Davinson Sanchez, which was quickly followed by a calm finish from Rodrigo Aguirre, placing Uruguay in a favorable position. As the game progressed, it appeared that Uruguay might face yet another setback when Colombia equalized in the sixth minute of stoppage time with a goal from substitute Andres Gomez.

Gomez's goal, which passed a tense VAR review, briefly appeared to extinguish Uruguay's chances of claiming all three points. Following an extensive check, the match resumed in the 100th minute, allowing only a scant amount of time for a comeback. Yet, with just moments left, Ugarte produced a stunning play, smoothly guiding the ball into the net from the edge of the box, igniting wild celebrations among the Uruguay supporters.

After the match, Uruguay's head coach Marcelo Bielsa described the win as a considerable emotional uplift, highlighting the significance of a victory that would restore morale for both the team and its supporters. 'Victories like today's are restorative as they unite all the individuals involved around such a powerful sentiment, which in Uruguay centers around the national team,' Bielsa stated. “It was crucial to win again. No matter how it came about, which was certainly thrilling, it was a vital win. We are progressing in the right direction.”

This victory has provided Uruguay with essential momentum in their qualifying journey, and although the path to the 2026 World Cup is lengthy and difficult, Ugarte's thrilling last-minute goal has undoubtedly instilled a sense of confidence that will propel them forward. With their focus now directed firmly towards Argentina, Uruguay aims to capitalize on this crucial win, aware that with talented players like Ugarte, they possess the ability to reach even higher achievements.