Copa America Final: Suarez named player of the tournament as Uruguay champion

With a large display in the first half, Uruguay won Paraguay by 3-0 and won the 2011 Copa America. In the Monumental stadium, in Buenos Aires, the Celeste regained the title South American - who has not won since 1995 - and became the biggest champion of the competition's history with 15 titles. Suarez, on 11 minutes, and Forlan, in the first step (41), and 44 of the second time, scored the goals of Uruguay, which gave the victory by 3-0.

With the best campaign in the Copa America, Uruguay tried to decide the match and quickly began to end everything. In the first minute, Suarez had a good chance after a little confusion in the area, but Villar saved. Lugano headed hard and had a great save of Villar, off the line. On the rebound, Coates tried, but Caceres saved. In the first ten minutes, Uruguay had six corners.

Thus, the goal did not take long. After passing from Diego Perez, the forward Luis Suarez passed by Dario Veron, who stood on the ground, and kicked in the right corner of Villar, scoring 1-0 for Celeste. After the goal, the country reacted in the field. At 15 minutes, and Enrique Vera launched in the area and Haedo Valdez arrived with danger. But Gerardo Martino's team stopped there.

Much better on the field, Uruguay reached the second goal after 41 minutes. Arevalo Rios stole the ball off the Paraguayan defence and rolled to Forlan hit hard, no chance for Villar. In a great first half, Celeste completely dominated the Paraguayan team, with twice as many passes (164 to 80), nine corner kicks compared to only one of Paraguay, as well as a possession of 60% and 13 shots against just two of Paraguay.

In the second half, Paraguay returned better, in order to minimize the advantage. At 8 minutes, the team that reached the decision with five draws almost scored with Haedo, who hit the crossbar of Muslera.

After that, however, returned to Uruguay the control the match. At 28 minutes, a quick counter-attack, Cavani (entered in the second half), rolled Suarez, who almost defined the game. But the final blow came on 44 minutes. After exchanging passes, the attack of Uruguay, with Suárez, played upside to Forlan, free to score, and made 3-0. Undefeated and deserved, Uruguay won the 2011 Copa America.

After spending the first phase with a draw against Peru and Chile, Uruguay won his classification conquering Mexico. Then, in the quarterfinals, eliminating the host Argentina on penalties, with great acting from Muslera. In the semi-final, beat Peru by 2-0, with two goals from Suarez, the runner-up top scorer with four goals, and voted best player of the Copa America.

By Rodolfo Rodrigues

Source: CopaAmerica.com

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Copa America Special: Luis Suarez doubles sent Uruguay into Final

After eliminating the host Argentina, Uruguay confirmed its favouritism and won Peru by 2-0 for the Copa America semi-final, played in La Plata. Striker Luis Suarez, with two goals in the second half, secured the win of the Celeste, which returns to play for the South American title four editions later (lost to Brazil in 1999). The Lugano and Forlan’s team now waits the winner of the clash between Paraguay and Venezuela for the big decision on Sunday, in Buenos Aires.

To reach the final, Uruguay ended up doing a great second half after a balanced first stage. In the first 45 minutes, both teams had a portable game with two good scoring chances for each side. The surprising Peruvian team, who had passed by Colombia in the quarterfinals, reached 4 minutes with a shot from outside the area by Yotún and then on 23 minutes with a cross from Vargas, who went through Guerrero and Advincula.

Uruguay, with more ball possession (52% to 48%), however, led to more danger. At 7 minutes, with Suarez, picking up a spare in the box and then with Alvaro Pereira, who had a good chance, almost scored after a corner kicked by Forlan.

In the second step, Uruguay returned better and after a failure of the best goalkeeper Raul Fernandez opened the scoring. At 7 minutes, Forlan kicked from outside the area, Fernandez did not hold the rebound and the opportunistic Luis Suarez made 1-0 for the Celeste. Behind the score, Peru felt the goal. Shortly after, 12 minutes, Alvaro Pereira found Suárez free and gave a great assistance to the striker, who only dribbled Fernandez and scored the second goal, almost ordering the victory. Suarez is now one of the Copa America top scorers with three goals, along with the Argentine Aguero.

Best in the pitch and with the advantage, Uruguay became even closer to the place in the final half when Vargas hit an elbow in Coates, sent off after just 23 minutes. After that, the Uruguayan coach took out Suarez and put in Gargano, and the team only managed the result, securing its place on the final.

Uruguay is now awaiting the winner of Paraguay and Venezuela for the final, which will be held next Sunday, July 24th, in Buenos Aires, at the Monumental stadium. If Uruguay reaches the title, the Celeste will become the biggest champion of the Copa America’s history with 15 titles and repeated the feat in 1987, when was champion in Argentina itself. Peru will play the match for third place in La Plata, on Saturday.

Source: CopaAmerica.com and SportsHDChannel

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