Uruguay Secures Copa America Semifinal Berth with Thrilling Shootout Win over Brazil

Uruguay triumphed in a tense Copa America quarterfinal clash against Brazil, sealing their spot in the semifinals with a nerve-wracking 4-3 victory on penalties after a gritty 0-0 draw in Las Vegas.

The decisive moment came when Manuel Ugarte calmly converted the winning penalty, following Eder Militao’s miss and Douglas Luiz hitting the post at Allegiant Stadium.

The match was tightly contested, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut opportunities throughout normal time. Uruguay faced added adversity when Nahitan Nandez received a red card, reducing them to ten men.

Reflecting on the intense encounter, Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet praised his team’s resilience, saying, “It was a very tense match against a tough opponent, especially playing with a man down in the closing stages. But we showed character despite our youth. This victory brings tremendous happiness to the group and the entire country. We are thrilled and hungry for more success.”

The quarterfinal encounter saw a total of 41 fouls, disrupting the flow for both sides. Uruguay’s best chance came from Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez, who headed over the crossbar from close range. Shortly after, Brazil’s Raphinha was denied by a sharp save from Rochet during a swift counter-attack.

Nandez’s pivotal moment came in the 74th minute when his yellow card for a robust challenge on Rodrygo was upgraded to a red following a VAR review. Uruguay defended resolutely thereafter, navigating through the remainder of the match without conceding, leading to a penalty shootout without extra time.

In another quarterfinal, Colombia delivered a dominant performance against Panama, securing a commanding 5-0 victory earlier in the day at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. James Rodriguez was instrumental, scoring one goal and setting up two others to propel his team into the semifinals.

Colombia will now face Uruguay in the semifinals on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, setting the stage for another thrilling chapter in the Copa America 2024 saga.