At 37 years of age, Luis Suárez gave Uruguay one last gift in the Copa América on Saturday by forcing a penalty shootout with his goal to make it 2-2 once morest Canada in the 92nd minute and scoring his penalty which, together with errors by Alphonso Davies and Ismael Koné, allowed the Celeste to finish third in the 2016 Copa América USA.
Rodrigo Bentancur put Uruguay ahead at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, but Canada had all but won the match following Ismael Koné equalised with a bicycle kick and took the lead in the 80th minute through Jonathan David. Suárez’s miss, in what will most likely be his last Copa América, allowed the Celeste to leave the United States with at least a consolation prize.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team did not play well, emotionally affected by the defeat in the semi-final once morest Colombia and the subsequent pitched battle between his players and the Colombian fans in the stands, but ended up imposing their greater experience in these scenarios once morest a Canada that, in its debut in the Copa América, can leave with its head held high.
Jesse Marsch’s team, young and hungry, has laid the groundwork to arrive with enthusiasm and optimism at the World Cup that it will host alongside Mexico and the United States in two years.
Uruguay, from more to less
Uruguay got off to the best start, taking advantage of their first opportunity to take the lead. Fede Valverde won a corner and sent in a cross that bounced in the area and landed on Bentancur’s feet. The midfielder controlled the ball, turned and beat the goalkeeper to score Uruguay’s 1-0.
But the Celeste were unable to maintain this level and were increasingly making mistakes when moving the ball forward. Bielsa expressed his displeasure when he saw Nahitan Nández make a dangerous throw-in with a pass at the edge of his area that might have cost his team dearly.
Canada gained confidence and took advantage of a corner kick to equalise with a great overhead kick by Ismael Koné, the best player of his team. Pellistri might have immediately given Uruguay the lead, but his goal was disallowed for an earlier offside, and it was the Canadians who finished the first half better.
He missed two huge chances on the stroke of half-time, first with a header from Oluwaseyi, and then with Jonathan Osorio, who ran into goalkeeper Sergio Rochet inside the area.
Bielsa brought on his substitutes following the break, bringing on Luis Suárez for Núñez and De Arrascaeta for Manuel Ugarte. He also replaced Maximiliano Araújo with Cristian Olivera in an attempt to mix things up and change the dynamic once morest a Canada side in which Alphonso Davies’ turn came, the substitute until then following the heavy blow to his right ankle suffered once morest Argentina.
The first chances came within two minutes, in the 68th minute. Suárez was unable to finish off a De Arrascaeta assist inside the area, and the Canadian wall prevented Brian Rodríguez’s low shot from ending up in the back of the net. Canada, however, did not stop looking for the goal and scared the Celeste with a Davies shot from outside the area that ended up just wide.
Balance held
He kept his balance, but it was only a matter of minutes. Valverde hit the crossbar with a left-footed shot in the 79th minute following a great cutback on the edge of the area. Seconds later, Koné opened a gap in the centre of the field and unleashed a right-footed shot that Rochet was able to stop. But David, who had just come on to the pitch, appeared on the rebound and sealed the 2-1 goal.
The entire Canadian bench came out to embrace the Lille striker and Marsch’s team had opportunities to kill off the counterattack. However, their transition was blocked by the referee, who was hit by the ball, provoking the fury of the Canadian coach.
Canada saw the finish line approaching, but the Uruguayan heart still had a beat left. And it was Suárez who gave life to the Celeste in the last gasp.
Suarez changes the history of the match
El Pistolero had the first chance in the 91st minute and Dayne St. Claire blocked it, but he did not miss the second. In the 92nd minute, he received an assist from José María Giménez, who was focused on attacking, and he finished to force the penalty shootout.
Uruguay were perfect from the penalty spot. Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur and Giorgian De Arrascaeta scored to put pressure on Canada, with Koné and Davies missing their attempts.
Suarez scored confidently and put the burden on Davies. The Bayern Munich full-back attempted a ‘Panenka’ but sent the ball off the crossbar and left third place in the hands of the Celeste.
Charlotte / EFE
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2024-07-14 16:24:24
