- Uruguay won their second penalty shootout in this edition to take 3rd place.
- Argentina and Colombia decide the title of CONMEBOL Copa América™ on Sunday, 14.
Highlights
- Betancur opened the scoring early on, while Koné scored one of the great goals of this edition to equalize at halftime.
- Jonathan David came on to score his second goal of this edition, turning the score around for the Canadians.
- In stoppage time, Luis Suárez forced a penalty shootout, and converted his shot as well as his teammates.
- Koné had a shot saved by Rochet, and Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar to end the dispute.
Match Recap
The match at Bank of America Stadium started by living up to what was at stake: a place on the podium at CONMEBOL Copa América United States 2024™. Uruguay tried to open the scoring in the 7th minute, when Cáceres challenged for a ball in the air from a corner kick and, on the left, Bentancur spun and shot hard and high to find the net. Almost immediately, Maxi Araújo ran into the area and shot for a good save by St. Clair: the momentum of the South Americans made it seem that goals would be a matter of time.
And it was, but instead for Canada. They grew in the match and started to bring danger to La Celeste. Almost in a repeat of the Uruguayan goal, Bombito rose higher and the ball arrived for Koné to star in an incredible move. With Rochet almost behind him, he jumped and hit the ball with a volley, defeating the opposing goalkeeper and tying the match. In the next play, Pellistri received the ball in the area and finished the goal, but VAR corrected the move with an offside at the beginning of the play.
In any case, the Canadians started to create the best offensive moves and had a great chance at the end of the first half: in the 43rd, Osorio entered the area and forced Rochet to make a great save. The teams went to halftime with the score tied.
Canada came back more organized in the second half, while Uruguay tried to find ways to attack their opponent. The first chance came in the 60th minute, when Oluwaseyi received a through ball in the box and shot over Sergio Rochet. La Celeste made changes to renew their energies and managed to grow in the match from there.
Suárez and Arrascaeta tried to score in the area and Cornelius made a fundamental intervention to prevent the Uruguayan goal – the same defender stopped another shot by Brian Rodríguez, who appeared free in the area in the next move. Jesse Marsch responded with the entries of Davies and David, who gave another dimension to the Canadian attack: the Bayern full-back shot from the edge of the area and saw the ball pass close to the post and, in the 80th minute, David took advantage of the rebound of a shot by Koné to turn the score, 2-1. Uruguay insisted in the end, and Luis Suárez got the equalizer in a play with Giménez, in stoppage time, to force the match for 3rd place by penalties.
In penalty kicks, Uruguay hit every shot with Valverde, Betancur, Arrascaeta and Suárez, while Rochet saved Koné's shot. And then Davies hit the crossbar to determine the winner of the duel.
Watch the goals, match highlights and penalties from Canada vs. Uruguay:
What's next?
Uruguay closes this 48th edition of the CONMEBOL Copa América™ with the final 3rd place spot, while Canada is in 4th place.
On Sunday, the 14th, Argentina and Colombia play this year's Grand Final at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Lineups and match information
Canada: Dayne St. Clair; Alistair Johnson, Moïse Bombito, Luc De Fougerolles, Richie Larya; Jonathan Osorio, Ismael Koné, Mathieu Choinière, Ali Ahmed, Jacob Shaffelburg; Tani Oluwaseyi.
Substitutes used: Alphonso Davies, Derek Cornelius, Jonathan David, Liam Millar, Thelonius Bair.
Cards: De Fougerolles (yellow), Oluwaseyi (yellow), Koné (yellow)
Head Coach: Jesse Marsch.
Uruguay: Sergio Rochet; Nahitán Nández, Sebastián Cáceres, José María Giménez, Matías Viña; Manuel Ugarte, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Betancur; Facundo Pellistri, Maximiliano Araújo, Darwin Núñez.
Substitutes used: Brian Rodríguez, Cristian Olivera, Luis Suárez, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Lucas Olaza.
Cards: Viña (yellow), Betancur (yellow)
Head Coach: Marcelo Bielsa.
Goals: 8' – R. Betancur (URU), 22' – I. Koné (CAN), 80' – David (CAN), 90+2' – Suárez (URU)
Canada penalties: David (converted), Bombito (converted), Koné (saved), Choinière (converted), Davies (offside)
Uruguay penalties: Valverde (converted), Betancur (converted), Arrascaeta (converted), Suárez (converted)
Superior Player of The Match Michelob ULTRA: Luis Suárez (Uruguay)
Referee: Alexis Herrera (Venezuela)
Venue: Bank of America Stadium – Charlotte, North Carolina
