Uruguay showcased a remarkable display of dominance over Bolivia, particularly in the closing stages of the match.
Uruguay faced Bolivia in the second round of the Copa America 2024 group stage, and under Coach Bielsa’s guidance, they deployed an aggressive lineup with Nunez leading the attack. Uruguay’s number 19 had an early chance in the 2nd minute, narrowly missing a header. Yet, their breakthrough came swiftly in the 8th minute when Pellistri capitalized on Araujo’s precise pass to score with a close-range header, igniting Uruguay’s momentum. They continued to press relentlessly, creating numerous scoring opportunities that kept Bolivia’s defense on edge.
After squandering a couple of earlier chances, Darwin Nunez eventually found the net in the 21st minute with a clinical left-footed strike following a swift counterattack. His header moments later narrowly missed extending the lead to 3-0, grazing the crossbar. Bolivia attempted a late first-half surge to equalize but found no success.
The second half saw Uruguay maintain control with deliberate possession play, while Bolivia struggled defensively. The match regained its intensity in the latter stages. Pellistri missed a golden opportunity in the 71st minute, firing wide with an open net beckoning.
Six minutes later, De la Cruz orchestrated a clever pass, allowing Araujo to sprint past the defense and score past Bolivia’s goalkeeper, extending Uruguay’s lead to 3-0. Valverde added to the tally in the 80th minute, executing a precise one-two with Pellistri inside the box before slotting home into the far corner, beyond Bolivia’s goalkeeper’s reach.
In the 89th minute, substitutes De Arrascaeta and Bentancur combined brilliantly to secure Uruguay’s emphatic victory.
Final score: Uruguay 5-0 Bolivia (Halftime: 2-0)
Goalscorers: Pellistri 8′, Nunez 21′, Araujo 77′, Valverde 80′, Bentancur 89′
Starting lineups:
Uruguay: Rochet, Nandez, R. Araujo, Olivera, Vina, Valverde, Ugarte, Pellistri, De La Cruz, M. Araujo, Nunez
Bolivia: Viscarra, Rocha, Haquin, Jo. Sagredo, Cespedes, Cuellar, Fernandez, Vaca, Villamil, Algaranaz, Terceros