Canada loses the 3rd place encounter of the Copa America 2024 to Uruguay in a thrilling penalty shootout at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday.
Score:
Canada 2 (3)–(4) 2 Uruguay
Goalscorers:
Canada: I. Kone 22’, J. David 80’
Uruguay: R. Bentancur 2’, L. Suarez 90+2’
First-half Analysis
With just a minute of play, Uruguay started to attack heavily and won a corner as well. Valverde stepped up to take the corner, while almost the entire Uruguayan team was in the box. As he curved the ball into the box, the Canadians unexpectedly left Bentancur unmarked, allowing him to seize the opportunity and swiftly score the goal to give Uruguay a strong start. The Canadians then won a corner in the 22nd minute, scoring an equalizer. Kone pounced on an inch-perfect corner to produce an overhead kick that landed in the goal, giving the Canadians an equalizer.
Key Moments 
- Failing to man-mark Bentancur led to an immediate punishment for the Canadians.
- Canada produced a beautiful goal from a corner, leaving the Uruguayans stunned.
- Despite facing a one-goal deficit, Canada managed to hold the ball more frequently.
Second Half Highlights
The second half began on an exciting note as both teams played attacking football. With many substitutions happening, David came up in the 62nd minute and immediately impacted the match. In the 80th minute, Kone’s shot rebounded off the keeper, which David pounded and made no mistake in sending it to the back of the net. In the final stages of stoppage time, Uruguay went for an all-out attack as Luis Suarez scored to take them to extra time and later penalty kicks.
Key Moments
- Big-game player Suarez scored a tap-in goal, which saw them go into extra time.
- Uruguay’s keeper repeatedly saved what could otherwise have been a huge upset.
Match-defining moments
Missed by Centimeters: In the 23rd minute, immediately after the goal, Facundo Pellistri slid the ball past St. Clair, only to have it ruled offside by mere centimeters.
Lack of Composure: During the final stages of the game, Canada was on the verge of winning but suddenly started to lose the ball more often. Finding an inch of a gap in the defense, Suarez scored an equalizer in 90+2′, leaving the Canadians stunned.
Experience Matters: The penalty kicks saw an inexperienced Canadian side face off against giants Uruguay for the 3rd place finish. With a weak attempt from Kone and Davies missing the target off the crossbar, Uruguay did not miss a single penalty kick and secured a worthy victory.
Implications and Future Prospects
For Uruguay: This victory justifies their solid performance throughout the tournament and highlights things the team needs to act on. With seniors like Luis Suarez, Edison Cavani, etc. retiring, they need to build a solid foundation around the young stars who will lead the team in the long term.
For Canada: This defeat should serve as a positive indication for Canada, as this Copa edition has shown their strength and potential. The only focus this team needs is to bring consistency and determination, which could lead them to big achievements.
Upcoming Fixtures
Canada vs. USA: September 8, 2024;
Uruguay vs. Paraguay: September 5, 2024
Conclusion
Canada, with a fierce fight, got up for the challenge and had answers to every obstacle they faced against Uruguay, but couldn’t handle the immense pressure of the penalty kicks. Canada almost came through, but 37-year-old Inter Miami striker Suarez’s stunner in stoppage time took them into extra time. Uruguay, the favorites and a team with immense experience handling pressure at the top level, finally took home the bronze.
