THE CONSPIRACY theorists who predicted a draw that would put both sides through had been proved wrong long before Luis Suarez gave Uruguay the lead just before half-time. After Uruguay’s 1-0 win, the two sides still became the first to reach the knockout phase, but not quite in the manner predicted.

Uruguay’s coach, Oscar Tabarez, said: “Both teams played to win. Some things are necessary. To be honest, for instance, to be sincere.” Mexico’s Javier Aguirre agreed: “We played to win, we were loyal to our style and the difference was one goal.”

In the first half, tackles flew, blood was spilled and there were chances before the Suarez goal that momentarily raised hopes among the South Africans in the crowd that salvation might be at hand. Mexico could have taken the lead when Andres Guardado smacked the underside of the bar from 30 yards. Moments later, a clever scooped cross from Diego Forlan was flicked away by the goalkeeper Oscar Perez. Slowly, Uruguay asserted control.

Tabarez defended his side’s counter-attacking approach. “This is a virtue,” he said. “It is not a crime to be strong in defence. We did not have three draws. Two out of the three matches were victories.”

The decisive moment came when Edinson Cavani swung over a deep cross and Suarez was unmarked at the far post to plant a header past Perez. The goal atoned for a miss following a slip by Hector Moreno. Uruguay nearly had a second when Forlan whipped in a free-kick and Diego Lugano’s header was saved by Perez. As news filtered through that France had pulled one back against South Africa, the match fizzled out.

Aguirre said Mexico had looked “a little afraid and scared”.

Mexico faded in the second half. As the floodlights came on and the temperature dropped, their chances of qualification hung in the balance but there was too little urgency. As it was, both teams progressed. Tabarez, admitting he was “surprised” at France’s implosion. Guardian Service