Uruguay clinched third place in the 2024 Copa América with a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Canada following a thrilling 2-2 draw in regular time. The match, played at a half-full Bank of America stadium, was a rollercoaster of emotions that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle.Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur opened the scoring in the 8th minute, but Canada, the tournament’s surprise package, fought back. Ismael Koné equalized in the 22nd minute with a great shot inside the area, and Jonathan David gave Canada the lead in the 80th minute. However, Uruguay’s veteran striker Luis Suárez, nicknamed ‘El Pistolero’, had other plans. In a moment of high drama, the 37-year-old scored the equalizer in the 92nd minute, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.In the shootout, Uruguay’s goalkeeper Sergio Rochet proved to be the hero, saving Ismaël Koné’s penalty. Canada’s hopes were further dashed when Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar. For Uruguay, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, and Suárez were perfect in their penalty kicks, securing the 4-3 shootout victory.Despite the loss, Canada’s coach Jesse Marsch praised his team’s performance, viewing it as a stepping stone towards the 2026 World Cup. For Uruguay, led by coach Marcelo Bielsa, this third-place finish serves as a consolation prize after their elimination by Brazil in the quarterfinals.This bronze medal marks Uruguay’s 10th third-place finish in the tournament’s history, the most of any team. The final match of the 2024 Copa América will take place on Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, featuring Argentina and Colombia.
Key points
- Uruguay won third place in the 2024 Copa América, defeating Canada 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw.
- Luis Suárez scored a crucial equalizer in the 92nd minute to force the penalty shootout.
- This marks Uruguay’s 10th third-place finish in Copa América history, the most of any team.
- The final between Argentina and Colombia will be played on Sunday in Miami.
Contradictions👾There is a slight discrepancy in the reported penalty shootout score, with most sources reporting 4-3, while one source reported 4-2.
