July 02, (THEWILL) – Uruguay claimed their place in the Copa America quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over the United States, eliminating the tournament hosts in the process. The match at Arrowsmith Stadium saw Mathias Olivera score the decisive goal in the 66th minute, sealing Uruguay’s third consecutive win in Group C.
The USA’s early exit marks a significant disappointment for the host nation, who failed to progress from the group stage despite winning their opening match. This unwanted piece of history breaks a streak of 23 previous instances where the USA had advanced after winning their first game in an international tournament.
Both teams suffered injury setbacks in a disjointed first half. Uruguay’s Maximiliano Araujo was stretchered off with a suspected concussion, while the USA’s Folarin Balogun limped off before halftime. The match remained goalless until Olivera capitalized on a rebound from Ronald Araujo’s header, just managing to stay onside to score the winner.
Despite late efforts from Christian Pulisic and Haji Wright, whose deflected shots were blocked on the line, the USA could not find an equalizer. The defeat, coupled with Panama’s 3-1 victory over Bolivia, sealed the Stars and Stripes’ fate, ending their hopes of home glory in the tournament they were hosting.
Uruguay’s perfect group stage performance sets a new record for La Celeste, marking the first time they’ve achieved a 100% record in a single group stage. They now look forward to a quarter-final clash with the Group D runners-up in Las Vegas, as they aim to add to their impressive tally of 15 Copa America titles.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
