MELBOURNE, Australia -- Kevin Muscat scored on a penalty kick in the 79th minute Tuesday to give Australia a 1-0 win over Uruguay in the opening game of a playoff for the final spot in next year's World Cup.

The return leg of the total-goals playoff is scheduled for Sunday in Montevideo.

Referee Graziano Cesari awarded the penalty after Paul Agostino, chasing a Harry Kewell cross, was pulled down by Paolo Montero about six yards out. Muscat, who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers star in England, beat goalkeeper Fabian Carini on the penalty kick.

The game drew 84,656 to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"Tonight, we're all happy we've won, but the job is only half done," Muscat said. "We won't be celebrating. We're only 50 percent of the way to the World Cup."

Uruguay coach Victor Pua remained confident his team would advance to next year's tournament in Japan and South Korea.

"They got one chance today and made it," he said. "But there are 90 minutes left in Uruguay and I hope we can turn around what happened today."

The teams fly to Buenos Aires on the same flight Wednesday, but Uruguay has a charter from there to Montevideo while Australia has a lengthy layover.

Australia has not qualified for the World Cup since 1974. Australia advanced to the playoff as the Oceania champion and Uruguay made it as the fifth-place team in South America.