LAS VEGAS – Manuel Ugarte scored the winning goal in the fifth round of penalties and Uruguay advanced to the Copa América semi-finals with a 4-2 penalty shootout victory over Brazil after the teams played out a goalless draw on Saturday night.
The teams combined for a tournament-high 41 fouls and just four shots on goal during a bruising, hectic match, with little of the impressive football for which both South American powerhouses are known.
Uruguayan Nahitan Nández was sent off after a red card in the 74th minute for a dangerous tackle on Rodrygo, but Brazil were unable to overcome their 10-man opponents over the next 21 minutes.
Uruguay led 3-1 after three rounds of penalty shootouts, when goalkeeper Sergio Rochet stopped Éder Militão and Douglas Luiz hit the post. Alisson Becker saved José María Giménez’s shot in the fourth round to keep Brazil alive, but Ugarte hit the target.
After their third penalty shootout in four Copa América quarterfinal matches, Uruguay advanced to face Colombia in the semifinals on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. Colombia defeated Panama 5-0 early on Saturday, extending their unbeaten run to 27 consecutive matches.
Defending champion Argentina faces Canada in the other semifinal, Tuesday, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The final will be on July 14th, in Miami Gardens.
Brazil played without Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior, who watched from the stands while suspended after accumulating two yellow cards. The team is already without Neymar, who has not played since tearing a knee ligament last autumn during Brazil’s World Cup qualifying defeat to Uruguay.
That victory was Uruguay’s first over Brazil in 13 games since 2001, but famed coach Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay have now beaten Brazil in consecutive matches for the first time since 1992.
Endrick made his career debut in place of Vinícius Júnior, but the 17-year-old phenomenon who joined Real Madrid at the end of this month was unable to shake Brazil out of its attacking funk. Apart from the 4-1 victory over Paraguay, Brazil scored a combined goal in the other three Copa América matches – and the Seleção returns home despite never losing in the tournament.
Uruguay advanced to the Copa América semi-finals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2011 and eliminated Brazil from the tournament for the first time in four attempts since 1995. La Celeste were eliminated on penalties after goalless draws in the quarter-finals in each of the last two tournaments, but this time Bielsa’s club have found a winning formula.
Uruguay got a strong performance from Rochet, who made three saves against Brazil after having made just five saves in total in Uruguay’s three group stage victories.
Both teams played cautiously and contentiously from the start. During a stoppage in the 17th minute, Ronald Araújo brought down Endrick from behind as the teenager complained about an earlier foul. Raphinha responded by taking down Araújo, but order was restored.
Araújo, Barcelona’s oft-injured defender, left the game with an apparent right leg injury in the 31st minute.
After 35 minutes with few scoring opportunities, the teams exchanged their best chances 35 seconds apart. Shortly after Darwin Núñez headed an unobstructed header from the bottom of Brazil’s box, Raphinha was stopped at close range by Rochet.
Nández, a 28-year-old veteran who recently joined the Saudi Pro League from Cagliari, was sent off following a video review of his overzealous, straight-legged tackle on Rodrygo, whose right ankle gave way upon contact.
Bielsa brought down Liverpool star striker Núñez moments later, retreating into a defensive stance that sent La Celeste to penalties. Endrick created perhaps Brazil’s strongest chance in the 84th minute, but his shot was smothered by Rochet.
The teams played in air-conditioned comfort at the Las Vegas Raiders stadium, with 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) heat outside. The crowd included NBA stars Joel Embiid and Devin Booker, who were in Vinícius Júnior’s box.
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