After a goalless stalemate, Uruguay beat Brazil on penalties within the Copa America semifinals, knocking the Selecao out to arrange a battle with Colombia for a spot within the closing. They performed the closing phases of the sport with 10 males, after defender Nahitan Nandez acquired a crimson card within the 74th minute.
The groups
Each groups have been organized in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Again within the dugout after a one-match suspension, Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa selected the again line of Nandez, Ronald Araujo, Mathias Olivera and Matias Vina because the defensive position in entrance of goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. Manuel Ugarte and Federico Valverde paired up in the midst of the park, whereas the trio of Facundo Pellistri, Nicolas de la Cruz and Maximiliano Araujo supported Darwin Nunez in assault.
For Brazil, coach Dorival Junior paired Marquinhos with Eder Militao within the coronary heart of defence, flanked by Danilo and Guilherme Arana. Joao Gomes and Bruno Guimaraes have been in midfield, and within the absence of the suspended Vinicius Junior, striker Endrick had Rodrygo on the left wing, Raphinha on the precise, and Lucas Paqueta because the central attacking midfielder, in assist.
The sport
Loaded with South American ardour and enriched additional by club-level rivalries between the gamers of the 2 groups, the match was very dynamic and stuffed with stress from the beginning, making the work of referee Dario Herrera from Argentina very troublesome. The primary actual probability of the match fell for Nunez within the 18th minute, and Uruguay have been extraordinarily unfortunate to not take the lead because the Liverpool striker reacted properly to a scramble in Brazil’s field to go goalwards, however one in all his opponents confirmed excessive composure to divert the shot huge of the publish.
Ten minutes later, it was Brazil’s flip to trigger issues for Uruguay, as they pressured Vina right into a mistake and the Celeste left-back inadvertantly put the ball on a platter for Endrick contained in the field, however as the brand new Actual Madrid ahead squared it for the incoming Raphinha, the cross was intercepted and the field cleared by Nandez.
With half an hour gone, Ronald Araujo blocked a cross coming from Brazil’s left flank and remained on the bottom, clutching his hamstring. The issue turned out critical sufficient to pressure Bielsa into the primary change, and Jose Maria Gimenez made his method onto the pitch to exchange the injured Barcelona defender.
Simply 4 minutes later, Nunez had one other nice probability as Nandez delivered an ideal cross to search out him unmarked at six yards, however his header went over the bar when he actually ought to’ve scored. Brazil responded straight from the following goal-kick, with Raphinha taming the ball properly and capturing previous Gimenez, however Rochet made a fantastic save.
Within the opening minutes of the second half, Uruguay gamers took a number of hopeful photographs from vary and Brazil threatened a couple of times because of errors in Uruguay’s defence, however the nets remained nonetheless. After which got here minute 72, when Nandez made a late deal with on Rodrygo from behind and initially acquired a yellow card. Nonetheless, the VAR overview revealed that it was a horrible problem which might’ve damaged Rodrygo’s ankle, and after two minutes’ deliberation and an on-screen overview, the referee upgraded the punishment from yellow to crimson.
Brazil expectedly confirmed way more attacking intent within the closing phases, however aside from one respectable try from Endrick, they by no means actually acquired shut.
The sport thus went into penalties. Valverde, in addition to substitutes Rodrigo Bentacur and Giorgian de Arrascaeta, all scored for Uruguay within the first three rounds, whereas Eder Militao noticed his shot saved by Rochet, Andreas Pereira scored, and Douglas Luiz hit the publish for Brazil. Alisson briefly restored his group’s hope by saving from Gimenez and Gabriel Martinelli scored to make it 3-2, however Ugarte then grew to become hero for his nation as he stepped up and beat Alisson to win the shootout.
The aftermath
Although Brazil noticed extra of the ball on this sport (60%), Uruguay have arguably proven extra need and high quality all through the match up to now, and it’s honest to say that their place within the semifinals is deserved. Their subsequent opponent is Colombia, who thrashed Panama 5-0 of their quarterfinal conflict, and the winner will tackle both Argentina or Canada within the closing.
As for Brazil, contemplating the frequency through which they produce world-class abilities, and the truth that a number of their present crop nonetheless have their finest years forward of them, it stands to cause to count on them to bounce again rapidly and characterize real contenders for the 2026 World Cup.
