Florida: Urugay’s Maximiliano Araújo scored a 16th-minute goal, and Darwin Núñez and Matías Viña scored one each in the final minutes of the match to beat Panama in the former’s opening match in Copa America. Uruguay, who started its hunt for its 16th Copa America title, dominated the match with 20 shots and seven on target at the Hard Rock Stadium here on Sunday, AP reported.
However, Amir Murillo scored once late into stoppage time, which served as some relief to Panama.
Seeking a record 16th Copa America title, Uruguay dominated with 20 shots, including seven on target. Amir Murillo scored late into stoppage time for Panama.
The match drew 33,425 to Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The stadium is the site of the July 14 final and seven games during the 2026 World Cup.
The United States defeated Bolivia 2-0 in Sunday’s earlier Group C game at Arlington, Texas.
Uruguay plays Bolivia at East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, while Panama faces the US in Atlanta. The group ends July 1 with a U.S.-Uruguay game at Kansas City, Missouri, and a Panama-Bolivia match in Orlando, Florida. The top two teams move on to the quarterfinals.
Uruguay is tied with Argentina for a record 15 Copa America titles but hasn’t advanced past the quarterfinals since winning its last championship in 2011.
Panama failed to get past the group phase in 2016, its only previous appearance as a guest at South America’s championship.
Araújo scored the first goal after he received a pass from Viña from just outside the penalty area, took a touch and turned. He tapped the ball twice and curled the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera’s outstretched left arm for his second goal in nine international appearances.
Núñez made it 2-0 in the 85th minute after Panama turned over the ball in the centre circle. Nicolás de la Cruz played a long cross to Araújo, whose header deflected off the shoulder of Murillo to Núñez. He volleyed from 12 yards for his 12th goal in 24 appearances, his ninth in his last six matches.
Viña boosted the margin to 3-0 with a header from de la Cruz’s free kick in the first minute of stoppage time, outjumping defender Abdiel Ayarza for his first international goal.
Murrillo spun a defender to beat goalkeeper Sergio Rochet in the fourth minute of stoppage time for his ninth goal.
Uruguay has undergone a rebuilding process under coach Marcelo Bielsa after the retirement of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godín, and a young roster has shown its ability to contend. Uruguay beat Lionel Messi, Argentina, and also Brazil in World Cup qualifiers, then routed Mexico 4-0 in a friendly early in June.
Mosquera made four saves to keep the game close until late.
Luis Suárez, the 37-year-old striker who is Uruguay’s career leading scorer and was the player of the tournament in 2011, did not play.
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Publish date : 2024-06-24 00:33:09
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