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Preface
Uruguay beat the United States 1-0 to advance from top of Group C. The game started with both sides showing their offensive and defensive qualities, but no goals were scored. At the end of the first half, Nandez's one-on-one ball was saved by the opposing goalkeeper, making the first half end 0-0. In the second half, Matthias Oliveira's follow-up shot broke the deadlock for Uruguay and the final score was set at 1-0. The result of this match saw Uruguay advance as group winners, while the United States were unfortunately eliminated.
The first half of the game progressed instantly
At Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, hosted by Peruvian referee Kevin Ortega. The backdrop of the match was the battle between two teams to qualify from the group. Uruguay have been excellent in their previous fixtures and are currently on a two-game winning streak and they will be guaranteed to qualify from the group as long as they go unbeaten in this fixture, with even a loss not affecting their prospects of qualifying. In contrast, the USA must take all three points in this game and rely on the result of the other game to decide if they can advance.
At the end of the first half, both sides failed to find the back of the net, but Uruguay showed the dominance on the pitch and came closer to scoring. Combining the strength of the two teams, Uruguay is clearly in the lead, which was reflected in the game. If the Uruguayan team can continue their performance and end up winning, or at least unbeaten, they will successfully qualify for the group stage.
For the USA, they will need to fight for more attacking opportunities in the second half and will need to use them efficiently to keep their hopes of advancing alive. This match is clearly highly strategic and suspenseful, especially with the qualification for the group still uncertain.
When Reyna was brought down in the 4th minute, the referee did not award a foul. After 12 minutes, Reina's pass failed to find the back of the net. In the 23rd minute, Uruguay's Araujo had to leave the field after being injured in a scramble in the box. In the 28th minute, McKennie tried to pass through to Balogun but was ruled offside.
In the 32nd minute, Uruguay quickly took a set-piece and Nandez's shot was cleared off the line. In the 37th minute, Oliveira crossed the ball, but Nunez's shot went just wide of the goal. In the 43rd minute, Uruguay counter-attacked and Pellistri's shot also failed to hit the target.
In stoppage time before the end of the first half, the score was still 0-0 Uruguay for the United States. It wasn't until the 65th minute that Uruguay took the lead 1-0 through Matthias Oliveira's follow-up shot. The game did sound intense and a little tense at the same time. In football, especially at a high level, players are at real risk of injury, especially in high-intensity matches.
The news of Maximiliano's departure from injury is indeed worrying, but thankfully the condition of the other injured players does not seem to be serious, which is good news for the team. Hopefully all the injured players will recover soon and get back on the pitch. This is crucial for the fairness of the game and the health of the players. Hopefully, the second half of the game will continue to be intense and exciting, so that the audience can see more outstanding performances.
The course of the second half
The second half of the U.S. against Uruguay was quite calm at the start. However, it wasn't until the 66th minute that Oliveira broke the deadlock for Uruguay with a follow-up shot in front of goal and pushed the United States into a corner. The USA then counter-attacked, with Christian Pulisic attempting a volley from the top of the box but the ball was saved by Uruguayan goalkeeper Ugarte on the goal line.
Despite continued pressure, the U.S. struggled to break through Uruguay's iron bucket defence and were unable to create another scoring opportunity. At the end of full-time, the United States lost 0-1 to Uruguay and went out of the competition. It was the first time in the history of the U.S., ranked 11th in the world, that they had made a big start to a major tournament but failed to qualify from the group.
Six minutes of stoppage time in the second half, and in the 91st minute, Christian Pulisic tried to shoot after cutting inside in the middle of the box, but the ball went high. In the 52nd minute, Valverde broke through from the left and tried a powerful long-range shot, but it went wide. In the 46th minute, McKennie turned and volleyed near the top of the arc in the middle of the box, but the ball went over the crossbar.
In the 76th minute, De La Cruz cut inside from the top of the right side and fired a long-range shot, but it was saved by the opposing goalkeeper Turner. In the 49th minute, De La Cruz crossed from the left to the front of the penalty area, and Viña's header went just wide of the goalframe. The U.S. team tried a number of attacks, but failed to get on the scoresheet.
Outstanding defender
Matthias Oliveira, Uruguayan left-back, currently plays for Napoli FC. He helped the team to the Serie A title in 2023, including outstanding performances in a number of key matches, such as assists and goals. In addition, he was selected for the Uruguayan national team for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Copa America.
Matthias Oliveira started his career in Montevideo, Uruguay, and was born on October 31, 1997. His progress was rapid, attracting the attention of the Napoli club, who signed in 2022. He then struck a standout 2023 Serie A season, providing assists to a big win over Torino, as well as netting in other matches, such as against Salernitana and Roma.
In terms of the national team, Oliveira made his debut in the 2022 Uruguay national team selection list and subsequently also played in the World Cup and Copa America. During the group stage of the 2024 Copa America, his crucial follow-up shot helped Uruguay win the group stage against the United States, securing a complete victory and securing top spot.
conclusion
In the 2024 Copa America, the host team USA lost 0-1 to Uruguay in the group stage and missed out on advancing to the next knockout round. With strong defense and precise attack, the Uruguayan team controlled the pace of the game and successfully qualified as the top team in the group. They have matured technically and tactically, and the U.S. team needs to learn from this experience and continue to improve their overall strength and game experience to be fully prepared for future tournaments.