MONTEVIDEO, June 2: Lightning struck twice when Uruguay suffered another surprise World Cup qualifying defeat at home, losing 3-1 to Peru on Tuesday. Nolberto Solano and Claudio Pizarro put the visitors 2-0 up early and Uruguay were reduced to 10 men when defender Gonzalo Sorondo was sent off in the 32nd minute.

Jefferson Farfan added Peru's third goal in the second half before substitute Diego Forlan netted a consolation for the home team. The Sky Blues were spared further humiliation as Peru missed several scoring chances.

Uruguay were also beaten 3-0 at home by Venezuela in March, an embarrassing defeat which prompted the sacking of coach Juan Ramon Carrasco. His replacement Jorge Fossati brought back a number of players banished under Carrasco, including striker Dario Silva, but suffered a similar fate on his debut on Tuesday.

Sixth-placed Peru, attempting to reach their first World Cup finals since 1982, have eight points from six games, one more than Uruguay. Uruguay made a good start, forcing several saves from Oscar Ibanez, but Solano's 12th-minute free kick changed the game.

The Aston Villa player curled the ball from the right of the penalty area over the wall and into the far corner of the net. Seven minutes later, Roberto Palacios broke down the right and crossed for Bayern Munich striker Pizarro to flick in his first goal of the competition.

Peru wasted an excellent breakaway before Sorondo was dismissed for hacking down Palacios, treading on him and then spitting at him when he got up. The visitors continued to spurn opportunities before going further ahead when Farfan put away John Galliquio's defence-splitting pass in the 62nd minute.

Forlan headed in a free kick with 17 minutes to go as Uruguay briefly threatened a fight back. A winner from Mauricio Pinilla seven minutes from time was enough to give Chile all three points away to Venezuela.

The win hoists Chile into second place overall in the 10-team zonal league with 10 points from six games, one point behind leaders Argentina, who were taking on arch-rivals Brazil on Wednesday.

In Tuesday's other game, Bolivia dented Paraguay's hopes with a 2-1 win in La Paz. Playing at an altitude of 3,600 metres and beaten 2-0 at home by Chile last month, Bolivia opened the scoring through veteran Luis Cristaldo after eight minutes, latching on to a rebound following a goalmouth scramble.

Paraguay hit back though and equalised after 32 minutes, Bayern Munich striker Roque Santa Crux setting up Jose Cardozo who picked his spot coolly to score. With Paraguay beginning to look tired in the thin air, the winner came after 71 minutes when substitute Roger Suarez headed home from Julio Baldivieso's free-kick.

The top four teams at the end of the league competition qualify for the finals, while the fifth placed team goes into a two-leg playoff against the winners of the Oceania Zone, likely to be either Australia or New Zealand. -Agencies