Edinson Cavani: Free Kick Caps Uruguay's 5-0 Demolition of Jordan in World Cup Playoffs

Edinson Cavani and Uruguay smashed Jordan 5-0 in the first leg of their World Cup playoff Wednesday. The win all but assures the 2010 third place squad will participate in Brazil next June. How much of a lock is Uruguay? According to ESPN research whiz Paul Carr, La Celeste have allowed six goals at home only once — in their first international back in 1902 vs. Argentina.

Cavani capped the route with a nicely taken free kick in stoppage time, summing up the day for both teams.

It also means Uruguay will be one of the eight “seeded” teams for the draw next month. Uruguay gets a seed along with host Brazil and Spain, Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Belgium and Switzerland. It bumps the always-dangerous Netherlands squad into the pot with all the other European teams, setting up the potential (cue the scary music) … “Group of Death.”

Jordan’s performance Wednesday doesn’t do much to enhance the idea of a 40-team World Cup, which was floated earlier this month by Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini.