USA Striker Darwin Nunez contributed a goal in Uruguay’s 3-1 win over Panama in Group C Copa America 2024.
In the 85th minute, when catching the ball that bounced from the aerial battle between his teammates and the Panamanian defender, Nunez volleyed his left foot to increase the score to 2-0 for Uruguay. The 25-year-old striker scored in his first match at Copa America. He also scored his 12th goal in 24 international matches and his fourth goal in two consecutive matches. Previously, on June 5, Nunez scored a hat-trick in a friendly match against Mexico 4-0.
Nunez celebrates doubling the gap in Uruguay’s 3-1 Panama match on the morning of June 24 in the Copa America group stage in the US. Photo: AFP
Uruguay is inherently more appreciated than Panama. They have won two World Cups and share the record of winning the Copa America 15 times with Argentina. In the last three confrontations, Uruguay beat Panama, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once.
And in fact, at Hard Rock Stadium, Florida, coach Marcelo Bielsa’s team also proved superior. They controlled the ball 53%, launched 20 shots – twice as many as Panama, and received nine corner kicks – three times as many as their opponents. Their players constantly rotated the ball between the two sides, crossed into the penalty area, combined with wall bounces and midfield breakthroughs.
In the 16th minute, the score opened for Uruguay, with a shot into the top corner from about 19 meters by left midfielder Maximiliano Araujo.
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Main developments of the match.
Uruguay could have taken a deeper lead if it had taken full advantage of subsequent opportunities. In the 19th minute, Giorgian de Arrascaeta headed wide in the penalty area, but could not beat goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera. Nunez also missed two opportunities when he shot face-to-face with Mosquera in the 29th minute and headed wide in the 46th minute.
At the beginning of the second half, “the wind began to turn” for Panama. The 43rd FIFA team controlled the ball well, actively attacked the middle and finished more boldly. They were almost rewarded when Jose Fajardo curled a shot wide of the post from outside the penalty area and his shot from 15 meters missed the bar.
Matias Vina was excited after the goal to increase the score to 3-0 in the match Uruguay 3-1 Panama on the morning of June 24 in the Copa America group stage in the US. Photo: AFP
Federico Valverde played for Uruguay until the 85th minute before making way for Rodrigo Bentancur. Before leaving the field, the midfielder who had just won the Champions League with Real Madrid almost increased the score to 2-0 when he shot from 30 meters away in the 66th minute. Meanwhile, Luis Suarez was not allowed on the field. Coach Bielsa wants the 37-year-old veteran to rest more after the first half of the 2024 season playing for Inter Miami Club.
After Nunez’s goal to double the gap, the match became more exciting. Minute 90+1, Matias Vina headed from a free kick outside the penalty area to increase the score to 3-0. But three minutes later, Panama took advantage of a counterattack on the right wing to shorten the gap to 1-3. After escaping into the Uruguay penalty area, Michael Murillo turned the ball past a defender, then shot into the top corner.
Currently, Uruguay leads Group C, with the same three points but more goals than host America. Before that, the US beat Bolivia 2-0.
On June 28, Uruguay will meet Bolivia, before playing the host on July 2. Copa America 2024 includes 16 teams divided into four groups, with the top two teams in each group entering the quarterfinals.