Striker Javier Chevanton scored twice as Uruguay routed 10-man Bolivia 5-0 in their opening World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Striker Diego Forlan opened the scoring, Chevanton grabbed the next two goals and Nelson Abeijon and Carlos Bueno got two more in the final minutes as Uruguay kept coach Juan Carrasco's promise that they would break with their defensive traditions.

A miserable afternoon was complete for Bolivia when defender Alvaro Ricaldi, standing in for the injured Marco Sandy, was sent off in the 67th minute for a second bookable offence.

Bolivia, coached by Uruguay-born Nelson Acosta, have a dismal recent away record and their hopes of qualifying for the finals in Germany depend almost exclusively on the advantage of playing home games in La Paz 3,600 metres above sea level.

But this defeat will be a serious blow for their morale.

Bolivia were outclassed from the kick off and Uruguay had already carved out several openings before Forlan, unmarked in the Bolivia penalty area, fired the Sky Blues ahead from an Alvaro Recoba pass in the 17th minute.

Chevanton, who had scored twice in his previous seven appearances, pounced on a rebound to add the second five minutes before halftime after goalkeeper Leonardo Fernandez had parried the ball.

Chevanton, who plays for Italian side Lecce, was on target again on the hour when he scored from a free kick.

Abiejon, given an international recall this year after six years in the wilderness, scored the fourth on 82 minutes after winning possession and scoring from outside the area.

Penarol's Carlos Bueno produced a deft finish to score the fifth with three minutes left.

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