Morales strikes as Nacional wins

The title came at the end of a turbulent season for Nacional.

The players had staged a “go-slow”, refusing to train more than once a day or take part in pre-match “concentration” where the squad are holed up in a hotel for 24 hours before games, in protest at late payment of wages.

At one stage, they said they had not been paid for five months.

Morales tapped in an easy 88th minute chance created by his 20-year-old striking partner Horacio Peralta to set off the Nacional celebrations and hit the headlines once again.

In the last three years, Morales has twice ended up in police custody, once for fighting in a nightclub and once for his part in a brawl at the end of a derby against Penarol, who together with Nacional form Uruguay’s big two.

Last year, he came off the substitutes’ bench to score twice as Uruguay beat Australia 3-0 to reach their first World Cup in 12 years. But at the tournament itself he missed a last-minute chance against Senegal which would have sent his team into the second round.

Danubio, who have only won one title, lost Argentine striker Claudio Biaggio after five minutes through injury, then missed a 13th minute penalty when Marcelo Sosa’s kick was saved by goalkeeper Gustavo Munua.

Three minutes later defender Andres Scotti outjumped a static Danubio defence to head Nacional in front.

Danubio, aiming to break a duopoly held by Nacional and Penarol since 1991, put themselves back in the hunt when striker Diego Perrone equalised in the 63rd minute before Morales finally put paid to their chances.

Nacional have won 28 titles since Uruguayan football turned professional in 1932, compared to Penarol’s 35. Defensor Sporting are third in the pecking order with three while Danubio, Progreso, Central Espanol and Bella Vista have one each.

Nacional and Penarol also won 11 amateur titles each.