A fine strike from Fabian Estoyanoff was enough to see off Northern Ireland.
A fine strike from Fabian Estoyanoff meant Northern Ireland's first game on their tour of the United States ended in a 1-0 defeat.Lawrie Sanchez's side were perhaps fortuitous to escape from the game without receiving a heavier defeat as in the second period Uruguay made their class tell.
Estoyanoff scored the only goal of the contest in the 33rd minute when his arrow of a strike beat Michael Ingham from a full 35 yards.
Aston Villa's Steven Davis, despite his tender years, was handed the captain's armband and he had a job on his hands in keeping his side calm in what was a predictably stormy first period.
Uruguay had two players booked in the first quarter of an hour, while Steve Jones conjured the first chance when he went close with a flicked effort at the near post.
Jones had another two half chances before Jeff Hughes and Ivan Sproule picked up bookings of their own as Ireland's grip on the game lessened.
While Sproule had a chance to level after Estoyanoff had opened the scoring, thereafter and it was Uruguay who looked the likelier to grab a second.
Gonzalo Vargas fired just wide and Scotti over the top, before Davis went close as he lobbed on to the top of the net, as Sanchez rang the changes.
Substitute Dean Shiels had an effort blocked as he attempted to make an impact but, overall, the result was a fair one as Northern Ireland fell to a defeat at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
