By ADAM SERRANO
It was a ball off the cross bar that helped Uruguay advance so far in the World Cup and in the end, it was a cross bar that kept them from glory.
In a match that saw a pair of lead changes, Germany defeated Uruguay, 3-2 at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. A late goal by Sami Khedira sealed an impressive comeback for the Germans who battled back from down 2-1 thanks to second half goals by Khedira and Marcell Jansen, ending Uruguay's impressive run.
Uruguay were presented with one final chance to come back in the 92nd minute when Luis Suarez earned the side a dangerous free kick just outside the penalty area. Diego Forlan stepped up to take the kick with a chance to work his magic for a final time, but the striker fired it into the cross bar as time expired.
Forlan put the Chaurras up 2-1 in the 51st minute with a shot off a volley that hit the ground and then bounced over the head of Germany defender Per Mertesacker. The first half saw an open match as Germany and Uruguay traded goals. The Germans went up in the 19th minute thanks to Thomas Muller's 5th goal of the tournament and with Uruguay's Edinson Cavani equalizing in the 28th minute.
Germany has now finished in third for the second consecutive World Cup. The finish for the Charruas is the best for Uruguay since 1970, when they were defeated by West Germany in the third place match.
Here are highlights from the match: