FINAL - Italy 0, Uruguay 1: Late goal sees Uruguay through, but Suarez controversy steals the show

Uruguay have qualified for the knockout stage after a 1-0 victory over Italy, with captain Diego Godin scoring in the 81st minute to see the South Americans advance at the expense of the Azzurri.

But the talking point following the match will be an incident between Luis Suarez and Giorgio Chiellini, which saw the striker appear to bite the defender. The referee took no action, and Uruguay scored minutes later.

The incident was the highlight of a second half chalked full of controversy, as Italy looked comfortable, if dire in attack, before the sending off of Claudio Marchisio in the 59th minute.

The Juventus midfielder took a heavy touch on the ball, and in stretching to recover saw his raised foot connect with the shin of Arevalo Rios. Worse tackles have gone unpunished, but contact was made, and Marchisio's foot was raised. 

The referee wasted no time whipping out the card.

From that moment on, the Italians were always going to be in tough, but despite having less of the ball with a man down (as expected), still looked comfortable with their ability to defend and keep the match goalless.

A Luis Suarez chance minutes after the red card was palmed away by Gianluigi Buffon, and Uruguay in truth created little else.

Then the controversy that will make all of the headlines.

Suarez, who has twice been proven to bite opponents — most famously Branislav Ivanovic of Chelsea last season — was involved in the aforementioned altercation with Chiellini, which left the defender incensed and had him racing to the referee attempting to show his shoulder where, it seems, he was proclaiming that Suarez bit him.

The forward, for his part, was also on the ground, holding his teeth.

With their anger over the incident still fresh, the Italians were forced to endure more pain only minutes later, when Godin rose highest from a corner to head past Buffon — just as he did to secure the La Liga title for Atletico Madrid against Barcelona this past season.

Italy are going home, while Uruguay are moving on.