Tabarez: 'Uruguay hurting after Brazil rout'

Oscar Tabarez was struggling to come to terms with Uruguay's heavy defeat at home to South American leaders Brazil on Thursday.

Coach Oscar Tabarez conceded he and his Uruguay side was left hurting following its crushing 4-1 defeat to Brazil in World Cup qualifying.

Uruguay opened the scoring in the top-of-the-table clash on Thursday but the host was unable to stop a rampant Brazil, who was led by Paulinho's hat-trick and Neymar's stunning lob.

The result saw Brazil move seven points clear of second-placed Uruguay in the CONMEBOL standings as Tabarez's men lost a World Cup qualifying match at home for the first time since 2009 - a run of 14 games.

"It hurts, although we are professionals we have passion for this and when we do not get what we want, it hurts," Tabarez said post-match after being without suspended duo Luis Suarez and Fernando Muslera.

"Sometimes these hard knocks give us a clearer picture of where we are. You never know what you're going to find in a football game. [The result] was not one of the possibilities I considered to be more likely.

"There is nothing to say, Brazil defended very well and were very forceful." Uruguay is back in action on Tuesday, travelling to Peru.