Brazil eliminated from Copa America by Uruguay on penalty shootouts

Copa America, 

Sunday, 7 July, 2024 

McCreadie Andias 

A 10-man Uruguay held Brazil on play time before beating them 4-2 on penalties to make it to the Copa América semi-finals for the first time in 13 years. 

Brazil went into the match short of Vinicius junior who was suspended after their group stage clash against Colombia after being handed a second consecutive match yellow card. 

A match with a handful of chances saw Darwin Nunez's header send flying over the woodwork before Raphinha's shot was tipped off by a palm. 

Uruguay survuved again as yet another save in stoppage time from Raphinha’s effort meant the first period ended on level terms going into the interval.

Just as Marcelo Bielsa’s men thought they had control of the game, Brazil were gifted a lifeline when a yellow card for Nahitan Nandez turned rouge following a VAR review for a studs-up challenge on Rodrygo, as 10-man Uruguay were tasked with keeping a hungry Selecao at bay for the final few minutes.

No one team were able to break each other's nets as full-time approached, with the stage set for a penalty shootout for the third time in four Copa América quarter-finals.

Having been knocked out of the tournament twice in succession before at this stage on penalties, an ominous event awaited Uruguay, but Brazil got off to a poor start with Eder Militao’s miss. The Celeste netted their first three spot-kicks and only needed to dispatch one more after Douglas Luiz struck the post.

The victory ultimately arrived via Manuel Ugarte’s final kick after Jose Maria Gimenez had missed his earlier chance, as Selecao failed to reach the semi-finals for the for the first time in three tournaments.

Meanwhile, Uruguay march on, with a showdown against Colombia awaiting them as a barrier in their quest for a record 16th Copa América title.