Luis Suárez steers Uruguay to Copa America third place
Striker Luis Suárez was man of the match Saturday at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, South Carolina, by rescuing Uruguay from a 1-2 deficit during stoppage time, thus bringing the match with Canada for the football Copa America third place to a pk decision in which he also scored the decisive shot marking the South Americans’ 4-3 win.
Rodrigo Bentancur gave Uruguay an early lead after only 8 minutes but Ismael Koné leveled the score at 1 goal apiece in the 21st minute, after which Canada established a territorial superiority. Still, Uruguay had a Facundo Pellistri netting disallowed through the VAR (video-assisted refereeing).
After the interval, Uruguay’s Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa sent on Suárez, among other changes, which would prove vital en route to victory.
Canada’s superiority materialized ten minutes before regular time when striker Jonathan David capitalized on a rebound from a Koné shot in the box, thanks to which the Concacaf seemed poised to victory before Suárez stepped in.
Scoring for Canada at the shootout were Jonathan David, Moïse Bombito, and Mathieu Choinière, while Ismaël Koné and Alphonso Davies missed their chances. Netting for Uruguay were Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, and Luis Suárez.
Suárez gets stoppage-time goal, Uruguay beats Canada 4-3 in shootout for 3rd place in Copa America
“Uruguay is one of the three best teams of this tournament and taking into consideration that the tournament included Central, North and South America, and we finished third, allows us to be optimistic,” Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said through an interpreter.
But Bielsa clearly wasn’t happy with his team’s effort, and added that he may have misjudged how tired his team was after playing on just two days rest.
Bielsa praised Suárez’s “physical skills and mental aptitude” after the match following his 69th international goal on a quick attack following a centering pass from José María Giménez.
“It is very well known what he has done throughout his career and having shared this time with him, I believe he is a top-notch player and a great teammate,” Bielsa said of Suárez.
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