Venezuela got one step closer to playing its first World Cup with a valuable 1-1 draw away to Uruguay Saturday, dpa reported.
Uruguay pulled ahead in Montevideo's Centenario stadium in the 11th minute with a header from captain Diego Lugano, but in the 55th minute Ronald Vargas picked up a rebound off the Uruguayan keeper following a free kick by Juan Arango to make things 1-1.
Venezuela now stands fifth in the South American qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, with seven points in five games. Uruguay is sixth, with five points.
Later Saturday, Peru were hosting Colombia in Lima.
On Sunday, Brazil are set to play qualifying round leader Paraguay in Asuncion, while Argentina host Ecuador in Buenos Aires and Chile are likely to have a physically-demanding game against Bolivia at high altitude in La Paz.
In the South American World Cup qualifiers, each of the 10 teams involved play all the others at home and away. The top four finishers win a place in the World Cup, with the fifth-place team facing a representative of the North, Central American and Caribbean region in a playoff.