England have beaten Uruguay 2-1 in an enthralling World Cup warm-up match at Liverpool's home ground Anfield.

Uruguay started the game strongly, with it looking as if England were destined for an embarrassing defeat by a team that failed to qualify for this summer's finals.

To make matters worse for England, Wayne Bridge was carried off with injured ankle ligaments after an accidental collision with 'keeper Paul Robinson.

England quashed the early Uruguayan threats, but a Rio Ferdinand error gave his former Manchester United team-mate Diego Forlan the first clear chance of the game.

Only Ferdinand's pace saved his blushes at the expense of a Uruguayan corner, which inevitably led to the opening goal.

Uruguay took the lead after Omar Pouso opened the scoreline in the 20th minute from a stunning long range strike from the corner conceded by Ferdinand, which left no chance for England ‘keeper Paul Robinson, seeing the ball lobbing spectacularly over him.

The setback stirred England slightly. They managed to gain an advantage in possession, and even though trailing finished the first half in control.

Chelsea's John Terry had the best chance of the half for England when he rampaged through the heart of Uruguayan defence, and looked set to score a spectacular first international goal but 'keeper Fabian Carini hurled his body in front of the shot, and deflected the effort wide.

Liverpool striker Peter Crouch came on to a raptuous Anfield crowd in the second-half to replace Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, who, incidentally, seemed most unhappy about being substituted.

But, within minutes of replacing Rooney, Crouch rose from a cross from Joe Cole to head the ball past the Uruguay goalkeeper, and to level the scores.

It lifted the crowd and England finished strongly. Crouch set up Joe Cole a minute later, but his shot was saved by substitute 'keeper Sebastian Viera.

But, surely the candidate for man of the match Joe Cole, turned goalscorer in injury time, after his Chelsea team-mate Shaun Wright-Phillips supplied the cross for the Chelsea midfielder to flick the ball into the net to give the win to England in injury time.

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