Uruguay had battled back from 3-0 down at half-time to level at 3-3 when Morales headed wide from only yards out with the goal at his mercy.

It was the sort of miss which will give the Nacional striker nightmares for the rest of his career.

After Dario Rodriguez blazed over from the game’s first chance, Senegal took the lead on 20 minutes through a controversial penalty.

Liverpool-bound El Hadji Diouf pounced on Paolo Montero’s weak back pass and then fell over, even through Uruguay goalkeeper Fabian Carini pulled out of the challenge and did not appear to make contact.

Referee Jan Wegereef thought otherwise, booked Carini and Khalilou Fadiga stroked home the spot kick.

Senegal scored their second on 26th minute through the scourge of the French, Papa Bouba Diop. Alvaro Recoba lost the ball and Senegal broke down the left in Henri Camara and he squared the ball along the edge of the 18-yard box for Diop to sidefoot home.

On 38 minutes it was 3-0, although Diop looked to be just offside before he converted Camara’s left-wing cross with a left-foot volley, which went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Tempers flared at half-time as the players walked off and Diouf exchanged angry words with Marcelo Romero.

Uruguay brought on Morales and Manchester United’s Diego Forlan at half-time and within 20 seconds of the restart, Morales pulled a goal back.

Forlan and Silva’s shots were saved and Morales knocked home the rebound to give Uruguay the faintest glimmer of hope.

Silva should have scored Uruguay’s second on the hour-mark when Recoba sent him clear on the left with a beautiful ball only for the Malaga striker to shoot wide.

Forlan, who could not manage a goal for United last season, showed him how it is done when he scored a terrific volley on 69 minutes.

Diop could only head Recoba’s free-kick as far as the Red Devils striker, who from just over 20 yards out cracked the ball home right-footed.

Diouf should have restored some breathing space for Senegal when Sylva’s long kick put him clean through but he shot straight at Carini.

That miss looked all the more crucial when in the 88th minute Morales threw himself to the ground to win a penalty and Recoba converted the spot-kick to make it 3-3.

The drama was not over yet and in stoppage time, Morales missed the chance that would have put Uruguay into the second round at Senegal’s expense when Lamine Diatta headed Gustavo Varela's shot into the air and he nodded the ball wide.