Colombia 2-2  Uruguay: summary, score, goals, highlights, World Cup 2026 qualifier

FT: Colombia 2-2 Uruguay

Colombia will have no-one but themselves to blame for a slew of wasted chances in the second half as the Cafeteros struck the woodwork twice in quick succession.

As it is, Uruguay leave Barranquilla with a point their second half performance barely deserved despite pulling level after the interval as Olivera nodded home to cancel out James Rodriguez's opener.

The Colombia captain was exceptional tonight and offered a fine display of leadership and creativity as the now Sao Paulo man bagged a goal and hit the post.

The Cafeteros sensed blood and lay siege to the Charrua goal after Uribe had restored the lead in the 52nd minute and just when it seemed that Bielsa's side would return home empty handed, Vargas lunged at Maxio Araujo and was duly awarded his second yellow as Darwin Nuñez slotted home to tie the contest.

All over in Barranquilla.

Sanchez heads but Mele saves with ease.

We've passed the 96 minute mark and that's it... the whistle sounds.

Colombia have no-one but themselves to blame as the hit the wood work twice and Luis Diaz was wasteful on a couple of occasions.

Lovely work from De La Cruz as he skips past two Colombia defenders and just fires a left footed shot inches wide.

The pressure now is on Colombia with just ten men.

The ref only adds 5 minutes... 

Bizarre decision from the Chilean !

Darwin Nuñez takes the ball and the Liverpool man could bag the equaliser.

The No.9 makes no mistake and silences the Metropolitano.

Vargas off with a red card.

Jhon Arias subbed for Montero in the Colombia goal.

De la Cruz has the ball, Vargas is still on the pitch. The ref is speaking to VAR as Montero (Colombia sub keeper is ready to come on).

What drama here at the end of the clash.

Drama at the end of the game and according to VAR, the Uruguay sub was onside and it will be a spot kick for the visitors.

Maxi Araujo was clattered by the keeper but was the Uruguay sub onside ?

This will be the second yellow for the keeper.

Vargas fouls a Uruguay man and this could be red for the Colombia keeper.

Four minutes of normal time left but anticipate at least 6, 7 or even more of added time.

Arias goes to ground and seems to be in some distress.

This does look like a genuine case of the player in trouble.

Bielsa cutting a more animated figure on the bench now sensing that the game is drifting away from his side.

Less than ten minutes left on the clock ...

Colombia in control but Uruguay showing one or two signs of danger finally.

Sinisterra and Carascal on for Colombia.

James and Santos Borre make way for the pair

Uruguay counter and the ball falls to Maxi Araujo and the Toluca man gets well over the ball and drives over.

Say what you want about James Rodriguez and his time with Al Rayyan and Olympiakos, but the Colombia captain has been excellent tonight!

Seems to be very little wrong with the Atlas FC keeper !

Vargas grabs the ball and appeals that he has a muscular issue.

Possibly a ploy from the Colombia stopper to see a few minutes tick off the clock.

Araujo goes close for Uruguay in their first attack on the Colombia goal in 10-15 minutes.

Uruguay seem to have run out of ideas in Barranquilla and have offered little since their goal at the start of the second half.

Araujo and Vecino on for Uruguay

Rodriguez and Ugarte are the players making way.

James Rodriguez finds Diaz with an ezquisite ball from the Colombia captain.

Into the final 20 of the contest and Colombia are good value for the 2-1 lead.

Uribe is swapped by Rios

Colombia sub.

Uruguay have forgot how to defend as Colombia cut through the Celeste with great ease. 

A much better second half and Colombia unquestionably on top now with the Cafeteros looking to put the game to bed with a third goal. 

And now the crossbar as James finds Arias who clips the crossbar.

Uruguay reeling!

James strikes the post after decent work from Luis Diaz.

Colombia well on top now.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta on with Nandez off for Uruguay.

Luis Diaz is one on one with the Uruguay keeper and the Liverpool winger scoops the ball over the bar.

Colombia looking good on the break.

Arias fouls and Uruguay win a dangerous free.

De la Cruz to take but Vargas is alert and punches away.

Excellent play from Colombia as Arias feeds James and the No.10 is unable to find Diaz. 

What a crazy 10 minutes to the start of the second half as Uribe fires up the Estadio Metropolitano.

VAR being checked and the goal stands.

Vargas saves Colombia once again 

Piqueras off with the other Olivera on.

All square in Barranquilla

VAR being consulted for some reason but on repeated viewing, all seemed well with the goal.

The goal stands.

Olivera nods home from an early corner.

Gooooool.

Olivera on and Pellistri the player replaced.

Changes in Uruguay as the ref starts the action.

The sides are back on the field.

The match officials are back on the field and we're just waiting for the sides now.

Colombia now on 7 points and as things stand, top the CONMEBOL table for 2026 World Cup qualifying.

Six of the top ten teams advance with the seventh heading to an intercontinental playoff.

Not a bad half in Barranquilla with the game certainly benefitting from the goal.

Despite the scoreline, it's Uruguay who have created more and have called Colombia stopper Vargas into action on more than one occasion.

The whistle sounds and Colombia head to the interval with a slender 1-0 lead.

James is fouled and will take the resulting free.

Danger for the visitors...Santos Borre almost heads in but a fine save from Mele keeps the scoreline at just 1-0.

Rodriguez shoots but once again Vargas was alert and saves well.

De la Cruz finds space but from close distance the River Plate man blazes over.

A poor miss from the visitors.

What a intervention from Araujo as he slides in just as Diaz was about to pull the trigger.

Corner for Colombia but it comes to nothing and Uruguay break.

Into the final five minutes of the half and the James goal has ignited the home fans who were starting to get restless.

Colombia ahead

The game needed that goal as it was starting to meander with little intent from either side.

Arias does well in delivering the assist as the captain does really well in controlling at the edge of the box and fires home on the half volley.

Spare a thought for Colombia head coach Nestor Lorenzo who is wearing a suit in the Barranquilla heat and humidity and is looking far from comfortable in the Cafetero dug out.

James carded for a lunge at a Uruguay man.

Uruguay break and the ball falls to Pellestri who has a go at lobbing the Colombia keeper but the Man United man makes a mess.

Manuel Ugarte has looked sharp tonight for Uruguay.

The high temperature kicking in now as the tempo of the action drops. 

Colombia give the ball away cheaply and the ball falls to Valverde who leans back and drives over.

Terrible error from Barrios.

James shoots from distance but never really connects and the ball goes wide.

A real 'even-steven´game here with both teams cancelling one another out.

A hesitation too from either side to take that key step forward.

Uruguay would be happy to leave Barranquilla with a 0-0 draw !

Possession after 20 minutes:

Colombia 53-47 Uruguay

Now Uruguay strike and Vargas does well to deny the visitors.

The game opening up now after a cagey start.

Arias fails to find Diaz and slowly but surely Colombia are starting to gain a foothold.

Uribe goes close with a ferocious right footed effort.

James Rodriguez reeling back the years with the trusty left foot marshalling the ball in the centre of the park.

Past the 10 minute mark and neither side could claim to have any definitive control of the game to date.

Uruguay enjoying more time with the ball.

Vargas carded for the foul on the Liverpool man.

Luis Diaz getting plenty of the ball down the Colombia left hand side.

What was the Colombia doing there as the Atlas FC stopper rushes from his box and clatters into Nuñez.

Sanchez gives the ball away and Rodriguez makes a fine run but the Club America striker blazes high and wide.

One senses that the Colombia players feel a hint of pressure with an expectant home crowd in Barranquilla.

Uruguay now dominating possession. 

Fabra fouled and there is a frantic pace to the opening minutes of the action.

Colombia in control of the ball in the opening stage.

Off we go .... 

All set in Barranquilla ... ideal conditions, packed house and two fine teams...

A small group of Charrua fans have made their way to the city of Barranquilla for the game as the Colombia anthem rings out and is been sung by 99% of the stadium.

National anthem time with first up, that of the visitors Uruguay.

The sides take to the field at the Metropolitano.

Great scene with 90% of the home fans wearing yellow.

Uruguay tonight in their all white ...shirts, shorts and socks.

The Estadio Metropolitano de Fútbol Roberto Meléndez is a sea of yellow as the teams emerge from the dressing rooms.

Colombia in yellow shirts and navy shorts.

A reminder of the starting XI's for those just joining us with kick off just 15 minutes away in Barranquilla.

COL-URU: last five meetings

Uruguay also have the upper hand when tt comes to the last five meetings between both nations.

Cafeteros and Charruas have met on 44 occasions with Uruguay recording 20 wins. Colombia have won 12 of the meetings with 12 games ending in a draw.

COL-URU: match officials

Chile's Piero Maza Gómez is the main match official for today's clash in Barranquilla with the referee to be supported with:

Juan Lara - VAR

Claudio Andrés - Assistant referee

Miguel Rocha - Assistant referee

Gonzalez Alveal - Fourth official

Half an hour to go until kick-off in Barranquilla.

Bielsa names La Celeste XI

Real Madrid midfielder Fede Valverde captain's the side that will look to Darwin Nuñez to create trouble for the Colombia defence. 

Keeper Santiago Mele is the Atletico Junior stopper so an interesting night to see the 26-year-old back at a ground he knows well.

Colombia XI announced

James Rodriguez (now playing with Sao Paulo in Brazil) starts and captains the Cafeteros tonight with Werder's leading the line augmented with Liverpool's Diaz.

Colombian FA celebrates its 99th

Tenants at the Metropolitano Stadium, Barranquilla based Atletico Junior (Shakira's favourite domestic team, fact fans) wish the Colombian FA as they celebrate their 99th anniversary. 

Atmosphere building in the Metroplitano

Our colleagues from AS Colombia are at the Metropolitano and report that the sun has managed to break through the dark thunderclouds as fans make their way into the ground.

CONMEBOL - matchday 3 games

Here's a full list of the matchday three listing for all ten teams in the group with tonight's Barranquilla clash arguably the most attractive fixture of the five.

With their three points from the win over Chile, Uruguay sit just one place behind Los Cafeteros and being realistic, both these teams should have enough qyaulity to secure a top six place come the end of the qualifying stage.

Colombia sit in third place going into matchday three of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers.

Remember, the top six teams will qualify automatically for a berth at the 2026 tournament with the 7th place side heading to an intercontinental play-off.

Uruguay team bus on way to Metropolitano

Wet and windy conditions for La Celeste as they head to the stadium.

Thunderstorms are forecast for tonight's game despite the hot and sticky conditions with a current temperature in Barranquilla of 29C-81F 

La Tri to wear the iconic yellow jersey

Nestor Lorenzo's side will be in their traditional home colours for the clash in Barranquilla. 

Uruguay have three points from their opening two games with a solid 3-1 win over Chile and a disappointing 2-1 loss away to Ecuador.

Colombia are unbeaten in their opening two games of the campaign having recorded a narrow win over Venezuela and drawing away to Chile.

The action at the Estadio Metropolitano de Fútbol Roberto Meléndez gets underway at 4:30 p.m. ET/ 1:30 p.m. PT.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Barranquilla as Colombia face Uruguay in the third matchday of the qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup.