Uruguay thrashed Colombia 3-0 in a South American World Cup qualifier marked by goals from its strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez. Darwin Nunez added the third in Barranquilla on Friday. Uruguay, fourth in the standings after three matches, will on Tuesday face Brazil. Brazil was playing Venezuela late Friday for the lead in the 10-team pack.

Colombia remained in sixth place. It next plays Ecuador in Quito. Uruguay was without key players including goalkeeper Martin Silva, defender Sebastian Coates, midfielder Federico Valverde, and striker Maxi Gomez. But a mistake by Colombia defender Yerry Mina in the fifth minute gave Uruguay the lead. Mina lost the ball near his penalty box, Nahitan Nandez pounced, and Cavani hit gently from close range, giving no chance to goalkeeper David Ospina.