Half-fit Suarez pushes England closer to World Cup exit

Luis Suarez made an instant impact on his return from injury with two goals for Uruguay in the 2-1 win over England in a match tagged by the local media in Brazil as ‘the game of the desperate’.

After both sides lost their opening games to Costa Rica and Italy respectively, this one was no doubt for brave.

Suarez hadn’t played for more than a month after undergoing knee surgery, but he was the key man yet again for the two-time world champions.

England conceded possession inside its own half, allowing Uruguay to break forward with speed, and Edinson Cavani provided the cross that Suarez nodded over goalkeeper Joe Hart in the 39th minute.

Wayne Rooney had gone close in the first half, glancing a header against the bar, but he finally broke his World Cup duck by turning in Glen Johnson’s cross.

Rooney had come closest for England, meeting Captain Steven Gerrard’s free kick in the 31st minute but only hitting the corner of the goal frame with his header.

England dominated proceedings at the start of the second half, yet could not break down the Uruguayan defence.

Wayne Rooney ended his 760-minute wait for a World Cup goal with a tap-in from a couple of yards out to level the scoreline. The Manchester United striker had gone goalless in his nine previous games across three tournaments: 2006, 2010 and this one.

England looked for the decisive winning goal, but the Uruguay defence held firm and a clearance from the back proved dire for England.

When Gerrard failed to connect a clearance from Uruguay’s defence, the ball fell to the talismanic Suarez, whose unstoppable shot blew past Joe Hart. Game over.

Uruguay play Italy in their last group game, and if they avoid losing and if Italy beat Costa Rica tomorrow, they will join the Azzuri as the two teams to qualify from the group.