Montevideo  - Uruguay secured Wednesday the last available berth for South Africa 2010 by defeating Costa Rica 2-1 on aggregate in the playoffs.

The two teams drew 1-1 at a packed Centenario stadium in Montevideo in the return leg of a play-off between the fifth-placed team in the South American qualifiers and the fourth-placed of the North and Central American and Caribbean region.

In the 69th minute, a header from veteran striker Sebastian Abreu, 33, appeared to give Uruguay a decisive lead.

However, the home side's joy was shortlived. Only four minutes later another veteran, Walter Centeno, 35, made the most of a rebound in the box to put Costa Rica back in the race.

In the end, however, Uruguay made the most of their 1-0 weekend win in San Jose and advanced to the 2010 World Cup.

Uruguay have won two editions of the prestigious global event, but they date back to 1930 and 1950. Recent times have been a lot more disappointing: of the past four editions of the prestigious tournament, they only played one, in 2002, and even then they crashed out in the first round of play.

Now, they have the chance to write a fresh page in the country's World Cup history.  (dpa)