Simply when it seemed like Canada had the sport received, Uruguay got here again and defeated Jesse Marsch’s facet within the Copa America 2024 third place match due to some late-game heroics from Luis Suarez.
Uruguay’s disappointing semi-finals efficiency in opposition to Colombia shattered their hopes of constructing their first Copa America remaining in over a decade. As an alternative of assembly Argentina at Arduous Rock Stadium tomorrow, La Celeste needed to accept a 3rd place match tonight in opposition to Canada in entrance of a sparse crowd at Financial institution of America Stadium.
How the sport unfolded
Though Canada loved a chronic spell of possession to kick off the match, it was La Celeste that struck first within the eighth minute. Fede Valverde’s nicely positioned nook discovered the pinnacle of Sebastian Caceres, who flicked the ball proper to the ft of an unmarked Rodrigo Bentancur on the close to publish for the 1-0 lead.
Jesse Marsch’s facet stayed within the recreation, although, discovering a number of half-chances earlier than scoring an unlikely equalizer within the twenty second minute. Jacob Shaffelburg despatched a lofty nook into the field, and regardless of two Uruguayans on both facet of Moise Bombito, the defender bought simply sufficient on the header to ship the ball to Ismael Kone. The midfielder delivered an ideal overhead end to beat Sergio Rochet and tie the sport at 1-1.
Facundo Pellistri answered with a purpose of his personal only one minute later, however the winger’s effort was whistled offsides. Regardless of Uruguay’s virtually quick reply, Canada dominated the remainder of the primary half, losing a number of goalscoring alternatives that will have given them the lead heading into halftime.
A lot of the second half lacked the depth of the primary till the ultimate quarter-hour of the sport. Jonathan David put Canada up 2-1 within the eightieth minute; Kone compelled a save from Rochet that rebounded proper to the striker, and the Lille man didn’t miss. It was none aside from Luis Suarez, although, who equalized for Uruguay within the 93th minute off an ideal cross from Jose Gimenez, sending the sport to a penalty shootout.
Valverde, Bentancur, and Giorgian De Arrascaeta buried their penalties, whereas Rochet saved Kone’s, placing Uruguay up 2-3 within the shootout. Suarez didn’t miss from the spot both, finally scoring the winner earlier than Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar. Uruguay got here out victorious, profitable 4-3 on penalties to safe third place at Copa America 2024.
GK: Sergio Rochet – 6/10 – Rochet made a number of huge saves within the first half to maintain his facet within the recreation, however the keeper conceded two targets for the primary time all event. Nevertheless, Rochet saved Kone’s penalty shot within the shootout, serving to his facet get the win tonight.
RB: Nahitan Nandez – 6/10 – Nandez returned from his one-game suspension and delivered an enormous efficiency for La Celeste, shutting down Jacob Shaffelburg and making a purpose line clearance to maintain the sport stage within the first half.
CB: Sebastian Caceres – 6/10 – Caceres assisted Uruguay’s opening purpose, however failed to shut down Kone on Canada’s second purpose.
CB: Jose Gimenez – 6/10 – Gimenez did not win the header that led to Canada’s equalizer within the first half, however the defender bounced again and made a number of well timed clearances and tackles to maintain the Reds at bay. The Atletico Madrid man additionally assisted Suarez’s equalizer.
LB: Matias Vina – 5/10 – Vina had an up and down evening. Though the defender dedicated clumsy challenges and wandered out of place at instances, he finally did his job to lock down Ali Ahmed.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur – 6/10 – Bentancur confirmed no indicators of the damage that compelled him off the pitch within the semi-finals, scoring the sport’s opening purpose—his second of the event. The midfielder additionally scored a penalty within the shootout.
CM: Manuel Ugarte – 5/10 – Ugarte had a number of uncharacteristic giveaways within the first half and struggled to maintain up with Canada’s tempo, forcing Marcelo Bielsa to make a change at halftime.
CM: Federico Valverde – 7/10 – Valverde’s set piece supply led to Uruguay’s first purpose, and the midfielder was denied by the woodwork within the second half. The Actual Madrid man scored Uruguay’s first penalty tonight.
RW: Facundo Pellistri – 5/10 – Past Pellistri’s purpose that was waived off, the midfielder did not have a lot of an influence within the remaining third.
ST: Darwin Nunez – 5/10 – Regardless of a number of flashes within the first half, the striker was comparatively invisible, main Bielsa to take him off at halftime in favor of Luis Suarez.
LW: Maxi Araujo – 5/10 – Araujo struggled to get a lot of something occurring the assault tonight, however the winger did nicely to trace again on protection to cowl for Vina.
Substitutes
SUB: Luis Suarez – 7/10 – Suarez performed his most minutes of the event tonight and equalized for Uruguay within the dying minutes of the match. The striker would go on to attain the winner within the penalty shootout.
SUB: Giorgian De Arrascaeta – 6/10- The midfielder had a number of lackluster set piece deliveries for Uruguay tonight, however he delivered within the penalty shootout.
SUB: Cristian Olivera – 5/10 – Olivera’s recent legs helped Uruguay’s assault within the second half, however to no avail.
SUB: Brian Rodriguez – 5/10 – Rodriguez seemed lively within the remaining third for Uruguay, however did not convert on certainly one of La Celeste’s greatest probabilities of the second half.
SUB: Lucas Olaza – 5/10 – Olaza did not make an influence after approaching within the 67th minute.
Supervisor
Marcelo Bielsa – 6/10 – Marcelo Bielsa’s squad had virtually each benefit over Canada tonight, and but Uruguay nonetheless struggled to regulate the sport. Certain, La Celeste equalized within the dying minutes and got here out on high after a penalty shootout, however such heroics from Luis Suarez and Sergio Rochet mustn’t have been wanted in opposition to Canada. Conceding two targets to a facet that has solely scored two targets all event raises plenty of questions on Uruguay’s squad transferring ahead.
