Uruguay cruises past Bolivia with 5-0 victory to claim place in Copa America knockout stages, as mega clash with desperate United States looms on Monday
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From the car horns mimicking the Uruguayan national anthem while entering the MetLife Stadium parking lots, to the pro-Darwin Nunez crowd packing the lower bowl inside the venue more than an hour before kickoff, the supporters of the two-time World Cup winners expected a joyous night.
And the Uruguayans got one in New Jersey, spending most of the game in cruise control, overpowering the lowly Bolivian opponents at every turn.
An eighth-minute header from Facundo Pellistri set forth Uruguay's berth into the knockout rounds of Copa America 2024. And at the final whistle, a 5-0 result confirmed its place in the final eight and the likely summit as Group C winners.
Bolivia's chances of advancing are all but gone, unless a blowout of Panama, combined with a United States drubbing of the Uruguay team that dominated it are in order on Monday.
In Group C's earlier Thursday contest, Panama upset the United States, who played with 10 men for a heavy majority of the match, putting the hosts in a difficult spot to qualify for the quarterfinals on home soil.
Uruguay officially advanced to the knockout stages of the 2024 Copa America with the win
Federico Valverde scored in the 81st minute to give his team a 4-0 lead over Bolivia
Without Luis Suarez in the starting lineup, it truly was a breeze for most of the South American clash for Marcelo Bielsa's team.
Nunez set the tone for the game in the second minute, barely missing a free header that froze Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
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The Liverpool star did not have to wait long for redemption, netting his team's second goal in the 21st minute, his seventh straight game with a goal for Uruguay.
It was the 30th minute before Bolivia sustained real pressure in the Uruguay half of the field, but rarely tested goalkeeper Sergio Rochet on the evening.
The Bolivian supporters in the crowd hoped for something to celebrate of their own, with an apparent coup attempt taking place in the country over the last two days.
Armored vehicles rammed the doors and soldiers stormed government buildings on Wednesday as a top government official warned of an attempted coup.
Darwin Nunez scored in the 21st minute, his seventh straight game with a goal for his country
Bolivian fans showed up to MetLife Stadium hoping for something to cheer for on Thursday
The country's President Luis Arce came face-to-face with the general commander of the Army Juan José Zúñiga in the hallway of the Palacio Quemado as chaos unfolded in the capital, La Paz.
But Arce vowed to stand firm and slammed the 'irregular' deployment of troops as tanks and military men swarmed municipal buildings and tear gas filled the streets.
Less than an hour later, Arce announced new heads of the army, navy and air force amid the roar of supporters, and thanked the country's police and regional allies for standing by him.
Arce said the troops who rose against him were 'staining the uniform' of the military.
'I order all that are mobilized to return to their units, said the newly named army chief José Wilson Sánchez. 'No one wants the images we're seeing in the streets.'
Yet, those Bolivia fans, heavily outnumbered by their Uruguayan rivals, celebrated participating in the continental tournament despite any troubles back in South America.
Uruguay added a third goal in the 77th minute on a Maximiliano Araujo dribbler that snuck past Viscarra,
Immediately after going up 3-0, the Uruguayan crowds chants of 'Suarez! Suarez!' filled MetLife Stadium.
Suarez was subbed on in the 83rd minute to the delight of the Montevideo North crowd, moments after his team extended its lead to 4-0 on a Federico Valverde goal.
Uruguay put an emphatic stamp on the end of the game with its fifth goal, a powerful header from Rodrigo Bentancur off a cross from Giorgian de Arrascaeta.