25 Jun 2014

Uruguay beat Italy 1-0 to advance at World Cup

7:56 am on 25 June 2014

Uruguay have kept their football World Cup dream alive with a 1-0 win over Italy in Natal that has sent the four-time champions crashing out of the competition.

Diego Godin scored the winning goal nine minutes from time against Italy, for whom Claudio Marchisio was sent off, to take second place in Group D behind Costa Rica, who secured top spot with a 0-0 draw against England.

In a fractious and bad-tempered match, Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini accused Uruguay striker Luis Suarez of biting him on the shoulder.

Chiellini and Suarez both flopped to the ground holding their faces after a coming together, after which the Italian defender pulled his shirt off his shoulder to show the referee, believing he was Suarez's latest bite victim.

But Godin had the last word, heading home a corner as Italy crashed out for the second finals in a row in the group stages.