Uruguay came from behind to defeat Canada 4-3 on penalty kicks after a thrilling 2-2 draw in the third-place match of the Copa América on Saturday night. Luis Suárez, Uruguay's all-time leading scorer, scored a dramatic equalizer in the second half of stoppage time to force the penalty shootout, where Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet saved one penalty and Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar with Canada's final attempt.
Uruguay fought valiantly to secure third place in the Copa América after edging Canada 4-3 on penalty kicks following a gripping 2-2 draw.
Uruguay Edges Canada on Penalties for Third Place at Copa América
After a pulsating first half that saw both teams score, Uruguay found themselves trailing 2-1 with just ten minutes remaining in the match. Canada's goals came from Ismaël Koné and Jonathan David, while Rodrigo Bentancur had given Uruguay an early lead.
With time running out, Uruguay launched a desperate attack, and Luis Suárez, their talismanic striker, rose to the occasion, heading home the equalizer in the second minute of stoppage time.
The match went to penalties, and it was Uruguay who held their nerve, with Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Suárez all converting their spot-kicks. Canada's attempts were more mixed, with Ismaël Koné missing and Alphonso Davies hitting the crossbar with the final kick.
Uruguay's victory was a testament to their resilience and determination. They had been outplayed for large parts of the match but never gave up fighting. In the end, they were rewarded with a third-place finish, a result that will undoubtedly be celebrated back home in Uruguay.
Canada, on the other hand, will be disappointed not to have secured a famous victory. However, they can take solace in the fact that they pushed a strong Uruguay team all the way and showed that they are a team with a bright future.
The match was played on the same field where Uruguay players entered the stands and fought with Colombia fans following a 1-0 semifinal loss on Wednesday night. However, this game was much more subdued than the heated semifinal, with an announced attendance of 24,386, compared to more than 70,000 — the overwhelming majority rooting on Colombia — on Wednesday night.
Defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi play Colombia for the title on Sunday night at Miami Gardens, Florida. Argentina and Uruguay are tied for the most Copa titles with 15 each.
Canada, which hired American Jesse Marsch as coach in May, will consider the tournament one of its best performances since winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The Canadians reached the World Cup for the second time in 2022, the first since 1986.
Uruguay is now one of the most successful teams in the history of the Copa América, with 15 titles to their name. This victory will give them confidence going into the 2023 FIFA World Cup, where they will be looking to make a deep run.
