June 25, (THEWILL) – The South American continental competition picked up the pace yesterday for Edinson Cavani as the veteran striker for English Premier League side, Manchester United, recovered from the defeat to Argentina and draw with Chile to lift Uruguay to a 2-0 win over Bolivia.
The victory kept Uruguay in contention for more in the competition as it elevated them above the team at rock bottom, Bolivia, and put them in qualifying places for the Copa America quarter-finals. Uruguay jumped into fourth place after three matches played in the group stages.
Bolivia’s loss meant they have managed no draws and no wins and cannot realistically make it into the next round and they might blame themselves for not taking their chances, on the one hand, and for self harm, on the other.
They gave Uruguay the lead in the 40th minute as Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe scored an own goal trying to defend his net while defender Jairo Quinteros was trying to prevent Cavani and fellow Uruguayan forward partner Luis Suarez from a tap in opportunity.
The lead could have been doubled several times over but Cavani was not clinical in his finishing as he was with United last season. Chances also came and went untapped for Suarez until the 79th minute when Cavani increased Uruguay’s advantage.
The 34-year-old benefitted from a Facundo Torres’ cross to him in the danger area of the Bolivian box and placed a well-driven right-footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal that beat keeper Lampe with the pace of the delivery for an assurance of their victory.
With progression to the next round guaranteed, Uruguay coach, Oscar Tabarez, will heave a huge sigh of relief and begin to make the team better suited for the uphill task of going beyond the next stage as Group A wraps up. Their four points from three games was low by their own high standards.
They next face Paraguay in the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro as the pursuit of glory continues for Cavani, Suarez and the entire Uruguay team.
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.
