- Uruguay wins 1-0 over the United States to win Group C
- Panama defeated Bolivia 3-1 in the other Group C match to earn the second qualification spot in the group.
Highlights
- A very tense match which the United States likely needed to win to qualify for the Quarterfinals didn’t have many chances in the first half with the hosts and Uruguayans deadlocked at 0-0.
- In the second, an impassioned Uruguayan team scored in the 66’ and then defended resolutely.
- The U.S. threw players forward but couldn’t find the goals to see them through.
Match summary
The atmosphere over GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri was that of pure adrenaline as the tournament’s hosts, the United States, played for their last chance to qualify for the Quarterfinals, against Uruguay. While the United States all but needed a win to qualify, Uruguay only needed a draw to secure their spot in the knockout rounds.
The crowd, the players and the staff of both teams could feel the pressure and the energy that were released once the whistle blew and the ball was kicked at the center circle. The first half was as physical as one could expect from a seemingly must-win encounter for the United States. Both teams lost a player to injury in the first 45’, Maxi Araujo for Uruguay and Florian Balogun for the United States, and neither team created many clear-cut chances.
The closest of the half fell to Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, who entered the match on a seven-match scoring streak. Nunez almost made it eight when a cross from Cristian Olivera in the 38’ found his foot in the box, but he dragged it wide. As the whistle blew for halftime both teams entered the locker rooms with the score tied 0-0.
Moving on to the second half, Uruguay had the ball in the back of the net in the 66' when Mathias Olivera scored a rebound off Matt Turner's gloves to put Uruguay up 1-0. VAR looked at the decision to check if he was offside, but he was deemed to be onside and the goal stood. From there a hectic match turned into a frenetic one. In the 75’, there were Incredible scrambling scenes when La Celeste’s goalkeeper, Rochet, flew out of his box to try and gather a long pass but he missed the ball. A scramble for the ball ensues and finally the ball is passed to Pulisic who hits the ball toward an empty goal but Ugarte positioned himself to block the USA’s captain’s shot.
The U.S. kept throwing attacking players forward, but it turned out to be in vain. The Uruguayans defended valiantly and with an intensity that it was as if their journey in the tournament on the line. In the end they were rewarded with their third victory and the hosts journey came to an end as the final whistle blew.
What’s next?
Uruguay is headed to the Quarterfinals, and as winners of Group C, they will play the second place finisher of Group D which will be determined tomorrow between Brazil, Colombia and Costa Rica. The match will take place on July 6 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The United States has been eliminated from the competition.
Lineups:
Uruguay: Sergio Rochet; Matias Vina, Mathias Olivera, Ronald Araujo, Nahitan Nandez; Fede Valverde, Manuel Ugarte; Maximiliano Araujo, Nicolas de la Cruz, Facundo Pellistri; Darwin Nunez
Used substitutes: Olivera, Gimenez, Bentancur, Suarez, Caceres
Cards: Nunez (Yellow)
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
United States: Matt Turner; Antonee Robinson, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Joe Scally; Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams; Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Gio Reyna
Used substitutes: Pepi, Sargent, Wright, Tillman
Cards: Adams (Yellow), Richards (Yellow)
Coach: Gregg Berhalter
Superior Player of the Match Michelob ULTRA: Mathias Olivera
Goals: 66’, Mathias Olivera (U)
Referee: Kevin Ortega (Peru)
Venue: GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri (USA)
