Uruguay Advances to Copa America Semifinals with Penalty Shootout Win over BrazilUruguay Advances to Copa America Semifinals with Penalty Shootout Win over Brazil Las Vegas, Nevada – Manuel Ugarte’s winning goal in the fifth round shootout propelled Uruguay to a 4-2 penalty victory over Brazil in the Copa America quarterfinals on Saturday night. The match, played in the air-conditioned confines of the Las Vegas Raiders’ stadium, was a tense affair with limited offensive highlights. Both teams committed a combined 41 fouls and managed only four shots on target. Uruguay took an early lead in the shootout when Éder Militão’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Sergio Rochet. Douglas Luiz hit the post for Brazil, giving Uruguay a 3-1 advantage after three rounds. Alisson Becker’s save on José María Giménez’s shot kept Brazil alive, but Ugarte’s decisive goal in the fifth round ultimately sealed the victory for Uruguay. Uruguay reached the semi-finals for the first time since their 2011 triumph, knocking out Brazil for the first time in four games since 1995. Match Highlights: * Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández was sent off for a dangerous foul in the 74th minute, but Brazil failed to capitalize against the 10-man opposition. * Endrick, the 17-year-old phenom who will join Real Madrid this month, made his first career start but could not break through Uruguay’s defense. * Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet made three saves during the shootout. Semi-Final Matchups: * Uruguay will face Colombia in the semi-finals on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. * Defending champion Argentina will take on Canada in the other semi-final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Manuel Ugarte scored the winning goal in the fifth-round shootout and Uruguay advanced to the Copa America semifinals with a 4-2 penalty shootout win over Brazil after the teams drew Saturday night.
The teams committed 41 fouls and had just four shots on target, the highest total of the tournament, in a tense, frantic match with little of the impressive football for which both South American powers are known.
Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández was sent off in the 74th minute for a dangerous foul on Rodrygo, but Brazil were unable to break through against the 10-man opposition in the following 21 minutes.
Uruguay led 3-1 after three rounds of the shootout when goalkeeper Sergio Rochet stopped Éder Militão and Douglas Luiz hit the post. Alisson Becker saved José María Giménez’s shot in the fourth round to keep Brazil alive, but Ugarte fired home the decisive goal.
After a third penalty shootout in four Copa America quarter-finals, Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals against Colombia on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. Colombia defeated Panama 5-0 earlier on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to 27 consecutive games.
Defending champion Argentina will face Canada in the other semifinal in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The final is on July 14 in Miami Gardens.
Brazil played without Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who watched from the stands while suspended after two yellow cards. The Seleção are already without Neymar, who has not played since tearing a knee ligament in Brazil’s loss to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier last fall.
That victory was Uruguay’s first over Brazil in 13 meetings since 2001, but Uruguay under famed coach Marcelo Bielsa have now beaten Brazil in back-to-back matches for the first time since 1992.
Endrick made his first career start as a replacement for Vinicius Junior, but the 17-year-old phenom who joined Real Madrid later this month could not lift Brazil out of their offensive malaise. Apart from a 4-1 win over an overmatched Paraguay, Brazil have scored just one combined goal in their other three Copa America games — and the Selecao will go home having never trailed in the tournament.
Uruguay reached the semi-finals of the Copa America for the first time since winning in 2011 and knocked out Brazil for the first time in four games since 1995. La Celeste had been eliminated on penalties in the last two tournaments after a 0-0 draw in the quarter-finals, but Bielsa’s club had found a winning formula this time around.
Uruguay got a strong performance from Rochet, who made three saves against Brazil, after Uruguay had made just five saves in their three group stage victories.
Both teams played cautiously and aggressively from the start. During a stoppage in the 17th minute, Ronald Araújo shoulder-checked Endrick from behind to the ground as the teenager complained about an earlier non-call. Raphinha responded by taking down Araújo, but order was restored.
Araújo, Barcelona’s oft-injured defender, was forced to leave the field in the 31st minute with an injury to his right leg.
After 35 minutes of few scoring chances, the teams traded their best chances with 35 seconds between them. Immediately after Darwin Núñez messed up an unobstructed header deep in the Brazil penalty area, Raphinha was stopped from close range by Rochet.
Nández, a 28-year-old veteran who recently joined the Saudi Pro League from Cagliari, was sent off after video captured him tackling Rodrygo with his legs outstretched, causing his right ankle to buckle.
Bielsa later removed Liverpool star Núñez and retreated into a defensive position that earned La Celeste penalties. Endrick created perhaps Brazil’s strongest chance in the 84th minute, but his shot was smothered by Rochet.
The teams played in the air-conditioned comfort of the Las Vegas Raiders’ home stadium, with the outside temperature at 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius). The crowd included NBA stars Joel Embiid and Devin Booker, who sat in Vinicius Jr.’s box.
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