Jul 13, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur (6) celebrates his goal with his teammates against Canada during the first half at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports Luis Suarez scored a late tying goal to keep Uruguay alive and his side prevailed 4-3 in penalty kicks to defeat Canada on Saturday night in the third-place game of the Copa America tournament at Charlotte.
The teams played to a 2-2 tie in regulation before the penalty-kick round. Uruguay’s Sergio Rochet made a key save on Ismael Kone’s stutter-step shot and Canada’s Alphonso Davies hit the center of the crossbar on the final shot with the net wide open.
Rodrigo Bentancur also scored in regulation for Uruguay. Jonathan David and Kone scored regulation-time goals for Canada, which was in the Copa America field for the first time.
Suarez had the biggest goal of the night in the second minute of second-half stoppage time, extending his Uruguay national team record to 69 goals.
Suarez made a run toward the net and received a pass from Jose Gimenez. He was wide open and easily sent a left-footed shot past Canada goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair into the left corner of the net.
Suarez and Bentancur also made penalty kicks in the match-ending round. The other Uruguayans to convert were Federico Valverde and Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
Converting penalty kicks for Canada were David, Moise Bombito and Mathieu Choiniere.
Rochet had gone diving to his right on the final kick and a stunned Davies could only watch the ball carom off the bar.
Canada took a 2-1 lead in the 80th minute.
The Uruguay defense gave space to Kone, who ripped a right-footed blast that was saved by Rochet. The rebound bounced out to David, who slid a right-footed shot just past the left hand of Rochet.
But Uruguay pressed late and St. Clair made a huge save on Suarez’s close-range left-footer just seconds before the tying goal.
Uruguay scored in the eighth minute when a corner kick rattled around and landed at Bentancur’s feet. He turned and ripped a left-footed shot high into the net.
Canada knotted the score in the 22nd minute after a corner kick. The ball found its way to Cone, who did a right-footed half-bicycle boot into the net.
One minute later, Uruguay had a break and wide-open Facundo Pellistri received the ball and kicked a right-footed shot into the left corner of the net. But Maximiliano Araujo was called offside, negating the goal.
Argentina faces Colombia in Sunday’s championship game in Miami.
–Field Level Media
