Uruguay showcased their dominance on Thursday night, securing a resounding 5-0 victory over Bolivia in the Copa America. This emphatic win puts them on the cusp of a quarterfinal berth, needing only a draw against the U.S. in their final group match on Monday to seal their progression.
Darwin Núñez continued his blistering form, scoring his seventh consecutive international goal, bringing his tally to 10 goals in his last seven games for Uruguay. Facundo Pellistri opened the scoring in the eighth minute, followed by Núñez’s goal in the 21st minute. Maximiliano Araújo added his second goal of the tournament in the 77th minute, with Federico Valverde (81st) and Rodrigo Bentancur (89th) adding further goals to complete the rout.
Uruguay’s impressive performance was in stark contrast to Bolivia’s struggles. They made six changes to their lineup following their opening 2-0 loss to the U.S. but still struggled to cope with Uruguay’s relentless attack. Bolivia’s defense appeared disorganized and their attack lacked creativity, leading to a one-sided contest.
With no points and a minus-seven goal difference, Bolivia faces a daunting task to advance from the group stage for the fourth consecutive time. Their only hope lies in a surprise win against Panama on Monday, while also hoping for a combination of unlikely results.
The victory for Uruguay extends their unbeaten run in the Copa America to 13 games, highlighting their status as one of the tournament’s favorites. Their next match against the U.S. will likely be a more challenging affair, with both teams aiming for a quarterfinal berth. The U.S. has three points and a plus-one goal difference, while Panama has three points and a minus-one goal difference, making for a tense final group match.
