Uruguay earned its ticket to the semifinals of the 2024 Copa América after beating Brazil 4-2 in an exciting penalty shootout in a tense match played in Las Vegas.
The victory allows the Uruguayans to access the next phase, in which they will face Colombia, which a few hours before had beaten Panama 5-0.
The match took a dramatic turn when Uruguayan midfielder Nahitan Nández was sent off in the 74th minute for a reckless tackle against Rodrygo. This pivotal moment shifted the balance in favor of the Brazilians, allowing them to dominate the final minutes of the contest.
Despite this, Bielsa’s team managed to stay with the score tied and force the penalty shootout, in which their pass was decided.
A rocky match for both teams
The first part of the contest saw both teams setting the tone for their strategies. They focused on nullifying the opponent’s attacks through constant fouls and intercepting their attempts in the midfield. This approach laid the groundwork for the intense battle that followed.
A victim of the violence with which the game was being played was Uruguayan defender Ronald Araújo, who left the field in the 33rd minute due to muscle discomfort and then numerous clashes with the Brazilian forwards.