From a poor start in the Copa América, Uruguay went further. They closed the group stage with a convincing performance, even dosing the work of Luis Suárez and Edinson Cavani.
And he avoided Brazil in the quarterfinals.
Cavani converted a penalty in the first half and Uruguay beat Paraguay 1-0 on Monday to seize second place in Group B.
La Celeste and La Albirroja started the duel at Estádio Nilton Santos already qualified. In a match in which Uruguay dispensed with the start of Suárez, it was his other star who gave him the victory, with the shot from 11 steps at 21 minutes.
“We grew throughout the Cup,” stressed Uruguayan coach Óscar Tabárez at a virtual press conference. “I think that in the important aspects of the game we were better, we had 10 shots on goal by two of them. It was doubly valuable, because we needed a win and to keep improving the game, and both things happened ”.
Argentina, which in a simultaneous match crushed Bolivia 4-1, finished the first phase as the leader with 10 points, followed by the Uruguayan team with seven and the Paraguayan team with six. Chile, who rested for the day, had to watch helplessly as the combination of results condemned them to fourth place and collided with the hosts on Friday, also at Nilton Santos.
Uruguay meets Colombia in Brasilia on Saturday and Paraguay faces Peru in Goiania on Friday, the same venue for the meeting between Argentina and Ecuador.
“Peru plays well, associates, has elaboration with dangerous people in attack,” warned Paraguay coach Eduardo Berizzo. “We will prepare in these days thinking about doing the best.”
Despite Suárez’s initial absence and the draw also saving him from facing Brazil, Uruguay showed ambition from the start. His attitude was rewarded by exchanging second place with Paraguay for third place.
“Getting the victory was important, having almost five days to recover from the effort is very good for us,” said “Maestro” Tabárez.
With five and even six midfielders (Nahitan Nández played right back) and Cavani as the only area reference, Celeste was the one that generated the greatest danger from the start.
There was no non-aggression pact in Rio. Berizzo arranged a very offensive line-up in Albirroja, with the return of Gabriel Ávalos.
Giorgian de Arrascaeta had clear opportunities early in the game for Uruguay, with shots at 4 and 8 minutes. The first hit the outside of the net and the second was deflected to a corner kick by goalkeeper Antony Silva.
And then a controversial foul by Omar Alderete on Nández was judged as a penalty by Brazilian Raphael Claus. Cavani’s right hand deceived Silva and put the result in line with the process.
The Manchester United star created a play that was about to extend the Uruguayan lead in the first half, with a pass that De Arrascaeta narrowly missed.
From then on, Uruguay left the ball to Paraguay, which also did not find depth, much more from the early injury (strain in the back) of Miguel Almirón, who left the court disconsolate.
In the complement, Uruguay continued to be superior. But he committed the sin of not settling the lawsuit. And in injury time, David Martínez took ahead a ball that was the promise of a tie.
“We did not play a bad game; At first it was difficult for us to adjust the marks, then we equaled and were able to draw but we did not have precision in the centers, nor in the stopped ball, ”said the Argentine Berizzo.
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For the rest, the Paraguayan team practically did not worry the goalkeeper Fernando Muslera. Uruguay calmly managed the advantage in the complement and, although Tabárez finally put Luis Suárez on the field in the 68th minute, he did so by retiring Cavani.
The Atlético de Madrid striker made a good move with Facundo Torres in the 69th minute, but his shot was neutralized by Silva. At 85, he made a free kick that went wide.
As for this last function of the inaugural phase: Celeste said goodbye with a recomposed face and Albirroja, with a worried expression on her face.
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