Maximilian Araujo, Darwin Nunez, and Matias Vina all found the back of the net as Uruguay emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Panama in their Copa America Group C clash in Florida on Sunday.
With this victory, Uruguay equaled the United States’ three points in the group. The U.S. secured a 2-0 win over Bolivia in their Group C match on the same day. Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay, who hold the joint record of winning the Copa America 15 times, were rewarded for their incredible early pace when Araujo skillfully curled the ball into the net from outside the box in the 16th minute. Panama grew stronger as the match progressed after the halftime break and squandered multiple opportunities to get themselves back in contention.
In the 52nd minute, Jose Fajardo missed a chance wide due to a defensive mistake by Mathias Olivera, while Jose Rodriguez tested Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet with a powerful long-range shot. When asked about his halftime instructions to his team, Panama coach Thomas Christiansen told reporters, “I advised them to play without fear.”
Uruguay were under pressure throughout the second half, but Nunez, who had already missed several opportunities, calmed their nerves in the 85th minute by skillfully volleying the ball into the bottom corner after a fortunate rebound fell to him. In a chaotic period during stoppage time, Vina leapt highest to score Uruguay’s third goal from a set-piece, while Michael Amir Murillo scored a consolation goal for Panama by cutting back onto his left foot and curling a shot past Rochet. Uruguay’s leading scorer of all time, Luis Suarez, 37, remained on the bench as an unused substitute. Uruguay’s next match will be against Bolivia in New Jersey on Thursday, while Panama will face the United States in Atlanta.
