Just when it looked like Canada had won the game, Uruguay came back and beat Jesse Marsch’s side in the Copa America 2024 third-place match thanks to Luis Suarez’s late-game heroics.
Uruguay’s disappointing semi-final against Colombia dashed their hopes of a first Copa America final in over a decade. Instead of meeting Argentina at the Hard Rock Stadium tomorrow, La Celeste had to settle for third place tonight when they faced Canada in front of a packed crowd at the Bank of America Stadium.
How the game happened
Although Canada enjoyed a long start to the game, it was La Celeste who scored the first goal in the eighth minute. Fede Valverde’s well-placed corner found the head of Sebastian Caceres, who flicked the ball to the feet of an unmarked Rodrigo Bentancur at the near post for a 1-0 lead.
Jesse Marsch’s side stayed in the game, however, and had few chances before scoring an unlikely equalizer in the 22nd minute. Jacob Shaffelburg sent a top corner into the box, and despite two Uruguayans either side of Moise Bombito, the defender got enough of a header to send the ball past Ismael Kone. The midfielder produced a perfect finish to beat Sergio Rochet and the match ended 1-1.
Facundo Pellistri responded with a goal a minute later, but the winger’s effort was whistled away. Despite Uruguay’s quick response, Canada dominated the first half, squandering several scoring opportunities that would have led them into the break.
Most of the second half didn’t have the momentum of the first until the last 15 minutes of the game. Jonathan David put Canada up 2-1 in the 80th minute; Kone forced a save from Rochet which rebounded to the striker, and the Lille man did not miss. It was none other than Luis Suarez, who equalized for Uruguay in the 93rd minute off a fine cross from Jose Gimenez, sending the game to penalties.
Valverde, Bentancur, and Giorgio De Arrascaeta all saved their penalties, while Rochet saved Kone’s, putting Uruguay up 2-3 on penalties. Suarez also missed from the spot, scoring the winner before Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar. Uruguay emerged victorious, winning 4-3 on penalties to claim third place in Copa America 2024.
GK: Sergio Rochet – 6/10 – Rochet made a couple of big saves in the first half to keep his side in the game, but the goalkeeper conceded two goals for the first time in the entire competition. However, Rochet saved Kone’s penalty in the penalty shootout, helping his team to victory tonight.
RB: Nahitan Nandez – 6/10 – Nandez returned from his one-game suspension and had a great performance for La Celeste, blocking Jacob Shaffelburg and making a goal-line clearance to keep the game level in the first half.
CB: Sebastian Caceres – 6/10 – Caceres assisted Uruguay’s opening goal, but failed to stop David from Canada’s second goal.
CB: Jose Gimenez – 6/10 – Gimenez failed to win the header that led to Canada’s equalizer in the first half, but the defender bounced back and made several timely clearances to keep the Reds at bay. The Atletico Madrid man also assisted Suarez for the equaliser.
LB: Matias Vina – 5/10 – Vina had an up and down night. Although the defender made some awkward challenges and was out of position at times, he ultimately did his job to shut down Ali Ahmed.
CM: Rodrigo Bentancur – 6/10 – Bentancur showed no signs of the injury that forced him off the field in the semifinals, scoring the opener—his second goal of the tournament. The midfielder also scored a penalty in the penalty shootout.
CM: Manuel Ugarte – 5/10 – Ugarte had a number of poor passes in the first half and struggled to keep up with Canada’s pace, forcing Marcelo Bielsa to make a change at the break.
CM: Federico Valverde – 7/10 – Valverde’s delivery led to Uruguay’s first goal, and the midfielder was denied by the woodwork in the second half. The Real Madrid man scored Uruguay’s first penalty tonight.
RW: Facundo Pellistri – 5/10 – Apart from Pellistri’s disallowed goal, the midfielder failed to make much of an impact in the final third.
ST: Darwin Nunez – 5/10 – Despite a few flyers in the first half, the striker was nowhere to be seen, leading to Bielsa subbing him off at half-time in favor of Luis Suarez.
LW: Maxi Araujo – 5/10 – Araujo struggled to get much going in attack tonight, but the defender did well to follow through in defense to protect Vina.
What you are holding
SUB: Luis Suarez – 7/10 – Suarez played his most minutes in the tournament tonight and equalized for Uruguay in the dying minutes of the game. The striker would go on to score the winner in the penalty shootout.
SUB: Giorgian De Arrascaeta – 6/10- The midfielder had a few spells to deliver for Uruguay tonight, but he came through on penalties.
SUB: Cristian Olivera – 5/10 – Olivera’s new legs helped Uruguay’s attack in the second half, but to no avail.
SUB: Brian Rodriguez – 5/10 – Rodriguez looked active in Uruguay’s final third, but failed to convert one of La Celeste’s best chances in the second half.
SUB: Lucas Olaza – 5/10 – Olaza failed to do anything after coming on in the 67th minute.
The manager
Marcelo Bielsa – 6/10 – Marcelo Bielsa’s side almost had the better of Canada tonight, yet Uruguay still struggled to control the game. Sure, La Celeste equalized in the dying minutes and came out on top after penalties, but such heroics from Luis Suarez and Sergio Rochet should not have been needed against Canada. Conceding two goals against a team that has scored just two goals all competition raises a lot of questions about Uruguay’s squad going forward.
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