Amazing Darwin Nuñez penalty stat as forward steals show in showdown with Liverpool teammate

Darwin Nuñez scored a stoppage-time penalty to earn Uruguay a point away in Colombia on Thursday.

Liverpool's number nine went up against the Reds' number seven, Luis Diaz, in Barranquilla with an entertaining match finishing 2-2.

Prior to the World Cup 2026 qualifier, Diaz revealed that there had been some friendly banter between the teammates as they shared a flight out to South America, but it was ultimately Nuñez who stole the show with his late equaliser.

James Rodriguez, once of Everton, put Colombia in front in the first half, while Mateus Uribe regained the hosts' lead after Mathias Olivera levelled the score shortly after half time.

With Diaz's side on the verge of victory, Uruguay were awarded a late penalty after goalkeeper Camillo Vargas was sent off for bringing down Maximiliano Araujo.

Nuñez stepped up to bury the spot kick in the top corner and earn Marcelo Bielsa's side a hard-fought point.

Speaking after the game, the Liverpool striker said: "I am very happy with the team's dedication because we left everything in the 90 minutes and took a good point.

"The truth is that when they scored the second goal I thought it was going to cost us much more, but we knew how to control it and in the end, we got that penalty that was very good for us.

"We are going to continue working as we have been doing until now, we have a good team, with many young people, but I believe in my teammates and we are going to leave everything."

Addressing the 'pressure' he feels at taking on the mantle as his country's main goal threat following in the footsteps of the likes of Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez, Nuñez is quoted as saying: "That pressure must be felt by others because I know that I am supported by the coach, my teammates and my family."

Impressively, Nuñez's goal on Thursday was the 13th career penalty he has scored, while the 24-year-old has yet to miss a spot kick at senior level, according to Transfermarkt.

Known as something of a fiery character, Nuñez's 10o% penalty record shows he does have a cool head when it counts.

Elsewhere in the the South American World Cup qualifiers section of qualifying, Alexis Mac Allister played 90 minutes in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Paraguay, while Alisson was an unused substitute for Brazil's 1-1 draw with Venezuela.