Pellistri, who is spending the season on loan at Spanish side Alaves, was selected from the off for Uruguay’s crucial visit to Paraguay after making it into Diego Alonso’s squad for the first time.
The world champions of 1930 and 1950 were under huge pressure to win: they started the matchday in seventh place in the CONMEBOL table and with their place at the Qatar finals in doubt.
Pellistri played on the right side of midfield but it was two of the Celeste’s more experienced players who made the difference, as Luis Suarez latched on to Diego Godin’s through ball to fire home the only goal of the game.