Jorge Fossati made his debut as Uruguayan coach against Bicolor. The Peruvian triumph in the centenary canned this premiere bitter chapter in the Uruguayan coach’s career.
Jorge Fossati came to our country to become the new coach of the Universitario de Deportes. The 70-year-old coach will replace Carlos Compagnucci on the cream bench with a goal of reversing the bad merengue moment. The Uruguayan strategist will be working in Peru for the first time, a nation he has been linked with on numerous occasions. Of all these, there is one that the Uruguayan does not fondly remember.
Jefferson Farfán scored his second goal in the 2006 Germany qualifier against Uruguay. Photo: GLR
This is the time when Fossati faced the Peru team in his debut as coach of the Uruguay team Qualification Germany 2006. On June 1, 2004, Celeste was awarded Bicolor for Day 6 of the qualifying process. Peru and Uruguay came at an awkward time, having lost at home to Venezuela (3-0) and Colombia (2-0) respectively the day before.
The Centenario Stadium in Montevideo would be the scene of one of the national team’s most memorable away victories. That day, Blanquirroja defeated Uruguay 3-1 in a game that went down in history. The first goal of the evening was the work Nolberto Solano. The “Maestrito” took the ball after a foul by Gonzalo Sorondo on the edge of the penalty area.
Solano’s iconic celebration after his goal against Uruguay. Photo: GLR
At 14′ the then Aston Villa midfielder hit the goalkeeper’s post. The ball hit the right post Gustav Munua and entered the arch. Great goal and 0:1 for the Bicolor. Five minutes later, Solano sent a long pass himself Roberto “Chorri” Palacios, which gave the Uruguayan defense the lead. The Peruvian ’10’ went into the opponent’s area and gave up the round Claudio Pizarro.
The captain of the national representation, with a strange definition, made the 0:2 with a lot of agony. However, the balance would tip in Peru’s favor at 33 minutes. After a ball dispute between Palacios and Sorondo, the latter spat at the Peruvian midfielder. The match referee, Chilean Rubén Selmán, then sent him away.
In this way, both teams rested, and after the resumption of stage two, the Peruvian team would manage to weight the extra man they had on the field. Thus at 62′ the third would come for those led by Paulo Autuori. John Galliquio slammed an alley pass Jefferson Farfan and the ‘Foquita’ shot the Uruguayan goalkeeper.
Jorge Fossati led Uruguay from 2004 to 2006. Photo: EFE
Uruguay’s tee shot would be the work of Diego Forlán with 72 minutes. John Galliquio committed a serious foul on Richard Núñez in three quarters of the field. Javier Chevantón threw the ball in the center of the box and found Diego Forlán, who popped a skillful popcorn and settled the game: 1-3 in favor of Peru and Fossati’s bitter debut at the head of his team.
At the end of the game, Uruguay would advance to the intercontinental playoffs, although they would lose to Australia on penalties. Peru, for their part, would have been eliminated early: bottom of the table with 18 points, only ahead of Bolivia. Autuori was unable to complete the tie and after retiring, Freddy Ternero took over.