Watch Uruguay vs Bolivia full match replay and highlight. This is a match of CONMEBOL Copa America 2023/2024, Group C – Round 2.
Kick off: 01:00 GMT Friday Jun 28, 2024.
Referee: Juan Gabriel Benitez, Paraguay.
Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford.
Uruguay Thrashes Bolivia 5-0 to Secure Knockout Stage Berth in Copa América 2024
Opening their Copa América campaign with consecutive victories for the first time since the turn of the century, Uruguay secured their place in the knockout stages for the third straight tournament with a dominant 5-0 victory over Bolivia at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Key Moments:
- Early Dominance: Darwin Núñez missed an early header, but Uruguay quickly capitalized with Facundo Pellestri heading in Ronald Araujo’s pass to open the scoring.
- Núñez Redeems Himself: After missing two chances, Núñez scored from inside the area to double Uruguay’s lead midway through the first half.
- Bolivia’s Struggles: Despite some attempts, Bolivia failed to find the back of the net, extending their scoreless streak in Copa América.
- Second-Half Surge: Nicolás de la Cruz assisted Maximiliano Araújo, Federico Valverde scored with a first-time effort, and Rodrigo Bentancur capped the game with a header from a set-piece.
First Half
Uruguay started strong, with Darwin Núñez missing an early chance but quickly redeeming themselves. Facundo Pellestri opened the scoring with a well-placed header from close range after Ronald Araujo’s assist. Núñez then made up for his missed opportunities with a fantastic finish, putting Uruguay comfortably ahead. Despite Bolivia’s efforts, they couldn’t break through Uruguay’s defense and went into the break scoreless.
Second Half
Bolivia tried to mount a comeback but were consistently thwarted by Uruguay’s solid defense. Uruguay continued to dominate possession, but it wasn’t until the final quarter-hour that the goals started flowing again. Nicolás de la Cruz set up Maximiliano Araújo, who scored with an untidy finish. Federico Valverde added another with a superb first-time shot, and Rodrigo Bentancur sealed the 5-0 victory with a header from a set-piece.
Key Players:
- Facundo Pellestri: Opened the scoring and set the tone for Uruguay.
- Darwin Núñez: Recovered from early misses to score a crucial goal.
- Federico Valverde: Added a spectacular goal to cap off Uruguay’s dominant performance.
Implications:
This victory guarantees Uruguay’s advancement to the knockout stages, continuing their strong Copa América tradition. For Bolivia, this defeat marks their 14th consecutive loss in the competition and confirms their early exit, continuing a disappointing run of failing to progress past the group stages in nine of the last ten tournaments.
Upcoming Fixtures:
- Uruguay: Faces a crucial match against the host nation, USA, in their final group game.
- Bolivia: Takes on Panama, hoping to salvage some pride in their last group match.
