Uruguay got their World Cup qualifying campaign back on track by beating Ecuador 1-0 on Sunday thanks to a Carlos Bueno goal that their opponents claimed did not cross the line.

The breakthrough came in the 58th minute when Bueno met substitute Fabian Estoyanoff's cross from the right with a header that was pushed away by goalkeeper Edwin Villafuerte.

The ball went straight back to Bueno, whose second header was brilliantly saved but referee Gilberto Hidalgo ruled that the ball had gone over the line while furious Ecuador players surrounded the linesman to protest.

Uruguay, who had lost their previous three qualifiers, moved level with Ecuador on 10 points from eight games in the 10-team South American qualifying group.

Ecuador were playing their first game under new coach Luis Fernando Suarez, who omitted 36-year-old captain Alex Aguinaga from the squad, left striker Ivan Kaviedes at home for indiscipline and gave Villafuerte his debut.

Uruguay forward Alvaro Recoba, jeered by local fans at a training session last week, had crashed one of his trademark left-foot shots against the bar in the first minute.

Bueno was also close with an inswinging free kick that Villafuerte tipped over but Uruguay lost momentum when striker Dario Silva limped off injured in the 25th minute.

Ecuador nearly went ahead just before halftime when Carlos Tenorio burst through the middle of the Uruguay defence but Sebastian Viera saved with his feet.

Uruguay went back on the attack after the break and Recoba wasted a chance when he dallied too long over his shot while Bueno was booked for diving shortly before scoring the winner.

Bueno was close again from an almost identical move in the 84th minute as Uruguay pressed for a second goal.

Uruguay's win could not spare Recoba from another round of jeers when he was substituted by Diego Perez in the 78th minute.