Uruguay trounce Venezuela 4-0 in friendly

MONTEVIDEO, Oct 19 (Reuters) Uruguay trounced Venezuela 4-0 in a friendly international in which both teams fielded experimental sides.

Mexican-based forward Vicente Sanchez and defender Diego Godin gave Uruguay an excellent start by scoring in the first 15 minutes of last night's game.

Sebastian Abreu, another Mexican-based forward, added the third six minutes after halftime when he picked up a bad back pass, rounded goalkeeper Manuel Sanhouse and scored into an empty net.

Sergio Blanco fired the fourth in the 88th minute and Venezuela had midfielder Miguel Mea Vitali sent off for a second bookable offence in the last minute.

Venezuela, next year's Copa America hosts, won the previous meeting between the sides in September, Uruguay's only defeat in five outings under coach Oscar Washington Tabarez.

REUTERS PM BST1823