BOGOTA: Colombia, who had played below potential in a poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign that included the sacking 10 months ago of coach Leonel Alvarez, climbed into the top five in the table with a 4-0 rout of Uruguay in steamy Barranquilla this morning, reported Reuters.

"We mustn't lose focus of what this qualifying campaign is," Colombia's Argentine coach Jose Pekerman warned after the emphatic win sparked by red-hot striker Radamel Falcao's (pic) early opening goal.

"This was a key result against one of the best teams in the world... (previously) 18 matches unbeaten, and we need to make the right reading of it," he said.

The Uruguayans, for the record, are the Copa American champions.

Colombia's win pushed Venezuela, who are looking to reach the finals for the first time but were beaten 2-1 away to Peru, down to sixth place.

Peru, who came from behind with a brace by reinstated, controversial winger Jefferson Farfan, climbed out of the basement now occupied jointly by Bolivia, who were beaten 1-0 by Ecuador, and Paraguay, quarter-finalists in South Africa two years ago.

The Peruvians will be looking to confirm their improvement when they host table leaders Argentina in Lima on Tuesday.

The same day, previous leaders Chile, who did not play this morning, entertain the Colombians, while Uruguay will be looking to pick up the pieces against Ecuador.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez, who makes no bones about the qualifiers being tougher than the finals, saw his side drop to fourth two points behind Argentina and one short of Chile and Ecuador.

Ecuador, crushed 4-0 when they met Argentina in Buenos Aires in June, have quietly picked up a maximum 12 points from four home matches without conceding a goal, evidently taking advantage of the high altitude of Quito that handicaps their opponents.

Bolivia have been unable to do this, apart from a 3-1 home win over Paraguay in June due more to the ineptitude of the Paraguayans' former coach Francisco Arce, who was then sacked.

Experienced Uruguayan Gerardo Pelusso took over from Arce and had hoped to surprise Argentina with some tough defence and counter-attacking while admitting before the game no-one has succeeded in shackling Lionel Messi. His team were no exception.

- mD