Watch Canada vs Uruguay full match replay and highlights.
KICK-OFF at 00:00 (GMT) on 14th July 2024
The referee for this match is A. Herrera
Game played at Bank of America Stadium
This is a match in South America – Copa America, 3rd Place Final, Season 2024
Uruguay Clinches Third Place in Copa América with Dramatic Penalty Shootout Win Over Canada
Uruguay, under the guidance of Marcelo Bielsa, recovered from their semi-final heartbreak to secure third place in the 2024 Copa América, defeating Canada 4-3 on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw in Charlotte. This victory adds to Uruguay’s illustrious history in the tournament, earning them a record 10th Copa América bronze medal.
Early Goals and Intense First Half
Uruguay, despite being tournament favorites, had struggled to score in their previous two knockout games. However, they broke their drought early in this match. Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring in the first 10 minutes, pouncing on a headed assist from José María Giménez and smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Canada, the last remaining North American team in the tournament, responded valiantly. Ismaël Koné equalized midway through the first half with an acrobatic finish reminiscent of Zlatan Ibrahimović. The goal came after Moise Bambito’s stray pass from a corner found Koné on the edge of the six-yard box, and he fired past a helpless Sergio Rochet.
Uruguay thought they had regained the lead shortly after, but Facundo Pellistri’s effort was ruled out by VAR. Canada almost took the lead themselves, but Jonathan Osorio’s rebound was cleared off the line by Nahitan Nández, ending a gripping first half.
Second Half and Late Drama
The second half saw both teams battling for a decisive goal. Canada, looking for a historic third-place finish, went toe-to-toe with Uruguay. Jonathan David seemed to have sealed the win for Canada with his 28th international goal, putting them ahead as the game neared its end.
However, Uruguay’s experienced substitute Luis Suárez salvaged a draw in stoppage time with a poacher’s goal, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout
In the shootout, both teams converted their first two penalties. However, the pressure proved too much for Koné and Alphonso Davies, who missed their attempts for Canada. Uruguay held their nerve, securing a 4-3 victory and third place in the tournament.
Reflecting on the Tournament
Despite the loss, Canada leaves the tournament with their heads held high, having exceeded expectations in their debut Copa América appearance. Their journey to the semi-finals and strong performance against Uruguay marks a significant achievement for the team, especially considering they have never won the Gold Cup and only made their first World Cup appearance in 2022.
For Uruguay, this third-place finish provides some solace after the disappointment of missing out on the final. It also helps to mitigate the negative aftermath of their semi-final defeat to Colombia, where the players’ families were attacked by rival supporters in the stands.