Uruguay’s Luis Suarez celebrates scoring his team’s second goal against England during their 2014 World Cup Group D match at the Corinthians arena in Sao Paulo yesterday. Suarez scored both goals as the South Americans beat England 2-1. Photo: Francois Xavier Marit/Reuters

Group D

Uruguay 2
Suarez 39, 85;
England 1
Rooney 75;

Luis Suarez struck twice including a dramatic late winner to earn Uruguay a 2-1 victory over England in a pulsating World Cup Group D match last night.

Restored to the lineup after injury, Suarez nodded home Edinson Cavani’s cross in the 39th minute and after Wayne Rooney equalised in the second half the Uruguayan took advantage of slack defending to slam home the winner five minutes from time.

“I dreamed about this,” a sobbing Suarez told Brazilian TV.

“I am enjoying this moment for all the criticisms that I had to take.”

The result left England, who lost 2-1 to Italy in their opener, bottom of the group and with little hope of reaching the last 16. Italy play Costa Rica in the other group match today.

“The second goal was a defensive mistake on our part,” England manager Roy Hodgson said.

“We came here with great hopes but were unable to deliver. It’s a major sadness.”

After a tense start at the Corinthians arena the game burst to life when Rooney, restored to his more favoured central role, whipped a wicked free kick just wide of Fernando Muslera’s post with 10 minutes gone.

Rooney went even closer after half an hour when he met Steven Gerrard’s inswinging cross but his close-range header smacked back off the woodwork while he landed in the net.

With England fans jeering Suarez’s every touch, the stage was set for him to turn the game on its head.

A lucky break in midfield sent the ball out wide to Cavani and Suarez escaped the attentions of Phil Jagielka to nod back across England goalkeeper Joe Hart for a 1-0 lead.

Suarez, who had been well policed by England’s centre backs until that point, wheeled away with a huge smile on his face, kissing his wrists and gesturing frantically in delight.

After the break, Uruguay had England on the ropes and Cavani should have done better when put clean through on Hart by Suarez, but he screwed his shot wide.

England gradually regained the initiative with Rooney at the heart of all their best work.

The number 10, who had never scored in the World Cup, picked up the scraps from a Leighton Baines delivery and brought a terrific save out of Muslera in the 55th minute.

Just as it looked like England would never find the net Rooney struck

Full back Glen Johnson worked his way into the box, and his square ball was rammed home by Rooney at the far post, sending the massed ranks of England fans behind the goal into a frenzy.

England were in the ascendancy but when Gerrard failed to deal with Muslera’s punt Suarez was away, outpacing Gary Cahill and slamming the ball past Hart.

England pushed for an equaliser but Uruguay held firm.

“We did a perfect job, all the players,” Cavani said.

“We worked from the first minute and that’s what gave us the win.”

Uruguay: 1-Fernando Muslera; 6-Alvaro Pereira, 3-Diego Godin, 13-Jose Maria Gimenez, 22-Martin Caceres; 20-Alvaro Gonzalez (79 4-Jorge Fucile), 17-Egidio Arevalo Rios, 7-Cristian Rodriguez, 14-Nicolas Lodeiro (67 11-Christian Stuani); 9-Luis Suarez (88 19-Sebastian Coates), 21-Edinson Cavani.

England: 1-Joe Hart; 2-Glen Johnson, 5-Gary Cahill, 6-Phil Jagielka, 3-Leighton Baines; 4-Steven Gerrard, 14-Jordan Henderson (87 18-Rickie Lambert), 19-Raheem Sterling (64 21-Ross Barkley), 11-Danny Welbeck (71 20-Adam Lallana); 9-Daniel Sturridge, 10-Wayne Rooney.

Referee: Carlos Carballo (Spain).