Wednesday night's amazing 3-3 draw with Brazil in Curitiba was just reward for a man who boldly went where none of his predecessors had gone before by fielding three strikers away from home against the five-times world champions.
Carrasco, known simply as 'JR' in his homeland, has performed an astonishing turnaround in his six months in charge.
Out have gone the rough play, gamesmanship and defensive tactics that have often been synonymous with Uruguayan football.
Attacking football and fair play are now the watchwords -- so much so that Carrasco immediately substitutes players booked for bad tackles or dissent.
Carrasco, who looked as if he had walked straight out of 'Saturday Night Fever' in his wide-lapelled cream suit and yellow tie, appeared to have bitten off more than he could chew as Brazil ran his side ragged in the first half on Wednesday.
His decision to make five changes from the team that beat Chile 2-1 on Saturday and drop top-scorer Javier Chevanton also looked somewhat questionable.
Commentating for Globo television, former Brazil international Falcao described Uruguay's tactics as 'suicide' during the halftime break after Brazil had raced to a 2-0 lead and created enough chances to have doubled their total.
OUTLANDISH MOVE
Yet Carrasco, who had upset Brazil beforehand by reportedly saying he knew more about football than his opposite number Carlos Alberto Parreira, was undeterred.
In what appeared to be another outlandish move, he replaced defender Adrian Marcelo Romero with attacking midfielder Alvaro Recoba.
Yet instead of capitulating, his team found their game, hit back to lead 3-2 and the world champions needed an 87th minute goal from Ronaldo to avoid defeat.
"There's no difference between losing 2-0, 3-0 or 4-0," said Carrasco of his bold halftime change.
"I never thought we had lost the game," added the coach, who stayed true to his fair play policy by substituting Diego Forlan after he was booked in Saturday's win over Chile and did the same to Marcelo Sosa in the first half on Wednesday.
"We didn't kick our way back, either. We worked hard this week and I have every confidence in my players."
Carrasco also made it clear where his inspiration comes from. "I'm not afraid to say that I'm delighted by Brazilian football," he added.
The result left Uruguay -- who won the 1930 and 1950 World Cups -- fourth in the South American World Cup qualifying group with seven points from four games and the impressive tally of 11 goals scored and eight against.
With players such as Forlan, Recoba, Marcelo Zalayeta and Javier Chevanton at his disposal Uruguay's future looks as bright as one of Carrasco's suits.
