Uruguayan Primera Division Review: Recoba brilliance lifts Nacional

Nacional scored two goals in injury time as they came from behind to sensationally beat bitter rivals Penarol 2-1 on Sunday.

With the clock ticking over into added time, Penarol – Uruguay’s most successful team with 49 titles – were seemingly on track to leave the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo with all three points after Antonio Pacheco scored a 59th-minute penalty.

But Uruguayan Primera Division league leaders Nacional, who had Santiago Romero sent off five minutes after Penarol defender Damian Macaluso was dismissed in the 79th minute – produced a stunning comeback to break the hearts of their fierce rivals, who sit fourth in the table.

Substitute Sebastian Fernandez equalised in the second minute of injury time and 38-year-old Uruguayan legend Alvaro Recoba came off the bench to win the game courtesy of a sublime free-kick four minutes later.

Nacional (33 points, +22) are within touching distance of winning the Apertura campaign, sitting seven points clear of Racing (26 points, +6) with three matches remaining.

Racing delayed Nacional’s title celebrations for at least a fortnight – due to the international break – after they overcame El Tanque Sisley 3-1 on Saturday.

Daniel Acosta’s first-half goal, and successful penalties from Mauricio Affonso and Juan Rodriguez cancelled out Joel Burgueno’s opener.

River Plate climbed up to third with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at home to Sud America.

Gaston Rodriguez’s 75th-minute penalty gave Wanderers a 1-0 win against Juventud.

Danubio stunned Defensor Sporting 2-1 and Atenas chalked up a 2-1 victory over cellar-dwelling Tacuarembo.

Martin Sosa scored six minutes from time as Rentistas downed Fenix 1-0, while Cerro prevailed 2-1 at Rampla Juniors.