Uruguay kickstarted their Copa América campaign in dominant fashion, securing a resounding 5-0 victory over Bolivia at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This win marks the first time since 2000 that Uruguay has opened the tournament with consecutive victories, propelling them into the knockout stages for the third consecutive edition.
Despite Darwin Núñez missing a close-range header early on, Uruguay didn’t wait long to break the deadlock. Facundo Pellestri found himself at the right place at the right time, nodding home a simple header from Ronald Araujo’s pinpoint pass, leaving Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra stranded.
Following their defensive woes against the USA, Bolivia faced a similar fate against a relentless Uruguayan attack. Núñez made amends for his earlier miss with a clinical finish inside the area, doubling Uruguay’s lead and solidifying their control of the game.
The Bolivian side threatened briefly with consecutive chances for Núñez, but a resolute Uruguayan defense thwarted their attempts. Bolivia ended the first half without a single shot on target, extending their streak to five consecutive matches without finding the net. Uruguay, on the other hand, remained undefeated at halftime when leading a Copa América match since 2014.
The second half saw Uruguay continue their dominance of possession, but the initial attacking spark seemed to have dwindled. Neither side managed a shot on target for the first quarter of the second half. However, the final twenty minutes witnessed a flurry of activity from the Celeste.
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Nicolas de la Cruz spearheaded the late surge, delivering a perfect pass for Maximiliano Araujo to bag a goal with a close-range finish. This was followed by a stunning first-time strike from Federico Valverde, sending the ball into the bottom corner with precision.
The final goal came from a set-piece delivery, with Rodrigo Bentancur connecting with a perfect header from close range to complete Uruguay’s dominant performance.
Bolivia’s aspirations of securing a positive result against a South American powerhouse ultimately crumbled. Meanwhile, Uruguay extended their unbeaten streak to four matches. The Bolivians remain in search of their first win in the competition since 2019, enduring a 14-match losing streak in Copa América. This defeat also marks their ninth failure to progress beyond the group stages in the last ten editions of the tournament.
In contrast, Uruguay continues their remarkable consistency, securing a place in the knockout stages for the ninth consecutive edition of the Copa América. Veteran Luis Suárez even enjoyed a brief cameo appearance, signaling their depth and potential for a deep run in the tournament.
