Uruguay, the reigning Copa America champions, defeated Canada in penalty kicks to finish third in their first-ever appearance at the South American soccer championship.
Uruguay drew 2-2 with Canada in the third-place match of the Copa America 2024 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday (local time) before winning 4-3 in penalty kicks to finish third in the tournament.
Uruguay, who have won 15 Copa America titles and are tied with Argentina for the most wins in the tournament, were edged out by Colombia in the semifinals and forced into the third-place game, but managed to pull out a dramatic victory in the final.
Canada lost, but still managed to finish fourth in their first-ever Copa America.
The Copa America, South America’s premier soccer tournament, was held this year under an agreement between the Confederation of South American Football Associations (CONMEBOL) and the Confederation of North American and Caribbean Association (CONCACAF), with 10 South American nations and six North American nations participating.
Jesse Marsh, who was considered a front-runner in the early stages of the South Korean national team’s hiring process but never finalized a deal, impressed in his first major tournament since taking charge of Canada in May.
Uruguay took the lead eight minutes into the game.
Sebastian Caceres headed in a corner kick from Federico Valverde, and Rodrigo Bentancur took one touch on the left side of the goal area before slotting home a left-footed turnover.
Canada equalized in the 22nd minute of the first half.
After Moise Bombito headed home a Jacob Schaffelberg corner kick, Ismael Kone equalized with an exquisite right-footed overhead kick.
Uruguay regained the lead just over a minute later when Facundo Pelistri’s shot from the right side of the penalty area rattled the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Canada continued to push forward, with Yonatan Osorio’s foot and header from the center of the penalty area in the 43rd minute denied by both the goalkeeper and the defense.
In a back-and-forth second half, Canada scored the game-winning goal in the 35th minute.
Jonathan David, who came on as a substitute 22 minutes into the second half, slotted home the rebound after Kone’s long-range shot from the right side of the penalty area was saved by Sergio Rochette.
However, Uruguay tied the game at 2-2 when veteran striker Luis Suarez, who came on as a second-half substitute, finished with his left foot a Jose Jimenez pass from the right side of the penalty area in fading stoppage time to send the game to penalty kicks.
In the dramatic penalty shootout, Uruguay converted all four of their kicks, including Suarez’s, while Canada’s third kicker, Kone, had his shot blocked by Rochette and fifth kicker Alfonso Davies’ shot hit the crossbar and deflected away.
Suarez, 37, who made his Copa America ‘last dance’ at the tournament, extended his tally to 69 goals to become Uruguay’s all-time top scorer in A-match history, and was the hero of the thrilling victory as he converted the penalty shootout. 토토사이트 추천