Venezuela

Dani Hernandez (12)

Roberto Rosales (16)Wilker Angel (2), Oswaldo Vizcarrondo (4), Rolf Feltscher (20)

Alejandro Guerra(15) Arquimedes Figuera(5) Rincon(8) Adalberto Penarando (18),

Josef Martinez (17), Salomon Rondon (9)

Uruguay

Gaston Ramirez (10), Edinson Cavani (21), Cristhian Stuani (11)

Raul Arevalo Rios (17), Alvaro Gonzalez (20), Carlos Sanchez (5),

Gaston Silva (19), J.M. Gimenez (2), Diego Godin (3), Maxi Pereira (16)

Fernando Muslera (1)

Summary:

Sub Venezuela: Alexander Gonzalez (21)for Alberto Rosales 7’

Yellow Venezuela: Josef Martinez 16’

Goal Venezuela: Salomon Rondon 36’

Yellow Venezuela: Arquimedes Figuerra 42’

Sub Uruguay: Diego Rolan (22) for Gaston Ramirez 74’

Sub Venezuela: Luis Seijas (13) for Salomon Rondon 77’

Sub Uruguay: N. Lodiero (14) for Carlos Sanchez 79’

Sub Venezuela: Romulo Otero (10) for Arquimedes Figuera 79’

Sub Uruguay: Matias Corujo (18) for Alvaro Gonzalez

Yellow Venezuela: Luis Seijas 85’

On a windy night in Philadelphia, Uruguay and Venezuela faced off in a crucial game for a spot in the quarterfinals of the Copa America Centenario. Lincoln Financial Field saw a host of sky blue shirts as Uruguayan fans came out in droves to support their nation. The mostly filled lower levels saw a spattering of red and yellow, however the majority of support came from the blue Uruguayan shirts, despite Le Celeste wearing their white, away kits.

The game began with high intensity as the ball flew from one end to the other in 30 seconds as Venezuela recorded the first chance inside the first minute. Diego Godin did well to block Josef Martinez’s shot as it flew out for a corner.

Both teams tried to make their mark early on, with Uruguay needing a win, and Venezuela hoping to take a lead in the group. An early injury to Roberto Rosales stopped play in the 5^th minute as the stretcher came out, though he was able to hobble off of the field on his own strength. After coming back on for only a minute Rosales was down yet again as Rafael Dudamel was forced to make an early substitution.

A flurry of chances in the 15^th minute by Uruguay gave the crowd hope, but each effort was as bad as the last. After several scuffed chances, Maxi Pereira ended up getting under his shot as it popped up into keeper Dani Hernandez’s grasp.

A free-kick by Gaston Ramirez in the 28th minute just needed the smallest of touches at the back post. His in-swinging cross flew by several Uruguay players on its way just a foot from the back post in what was the best chance of the evening.

Another chance came in the 33^rd minute for Uruguay. Carlos Sanchez found space down the right hand side, and his cross for Cavani was perfect. Unfortunately for him Cavani couldn’t get a touch on it as Hernandez pawed it away, diving to his right. In the end Cavani was offside, as Uruguay continue to knock on the door.

It was Venezuela, however, that scored a tremendous goal in the 36^th minute thanks to Salomon Rondon. Alejandro Guerra was the true genius behind it, as he attempted a 45 yard lop from the right hand side, which was tipped fantastically by Muslera to deny a potential goal of the tournament. His save, however, ended up hitting off the crossbar, back into play, and into the path of the oncoming Rondon. The bulky forward hesitated as Muslera almost made across the goal, but Rondon made no mistake with the keeper coming across and finished near post before the Uruguayan could get back across.

Venezuela almost notched a second when Alejandro Guerra broke through the Uruguay backline, beating 2 Uruguay defenders on his way through. He was pulled back as he shot in a weak attempt that was grabbed by Muslera with a collapse dive to his right.

The half came to a close with Venezuela leading 1-0 from a Rondon goal. Uruguay had a slight advantage in time of possession with 52% of the ball, but notched only 2 shots in that time to Venezuela’s 4.

A great chance fell to Cristhian Stuani off of a corner kick. The initial header by Godin was off the mark, but landed to Stuani at the back post. His initial touch was behind him, and when he got his body around to ball to shoot, his effort flew wide into the near post side netting.

Uruguay then had a few long distance efforts, each of which flew high and wide of the Venezuela net as Le Celeste started to get frustrated around the hour mark.

Uruguay had a penalty shout in the 66^th minute when Cavani was brought down in the process of shooting. The ref waved him up as Venezuela hit on the counter. Adalberto Peñaranda was put clear through by Josef Martinez, but he failed to convert a 1-on-1 situation against Muslera. The Uruguayan keeper came up with a big save to keep Uruguay in the game with 24 minutes left.

Venezuela suffered a second injury, this time to influential striker Salomon Rondon, as he was stretchered off of the field. In the ensuing minutes both teams made subs as the clock ticked down to the 80^th minute.

As the clock wound down Uruguay started to look desperate, however their play began to deteriorate. They resorted to long balls which Venezuela defenders dealt with easily. Venezuela was happy for play to become so sloppy.

Uruguay’s best effort came from Edinson Cavani, who was put in on goal 10 yards away. His wide open shot however flew wide, much to the chagrin of the Uruguay fans. Cavani had a chance just second later in a 50/50 with goalkeeper Dani Hernandez. The Venezuelan goalkeeper did well to hold the ball and prevent the oncoming Cavani from getting a touch.

Muslera came up for a corner in the last few minutes, and Venezuela almost added another as Josef Martinez almost scored from the half line, but his effort curled wide as the clock ran down in a last hurrah for Venezuela.

Thoughts:

It’s been a high intensity game with much of the battle going on in the midfield.

Uruguay have ben unable to get the ball in behind the Venezuela defense, and thus haven’t troubled Dani Hernandez.

Venezuela have done slightly better getting in behind, and have gotten some good chances because of this.

Uruguay seems to just want to find Cavani in the air, but the big Venezuelan defenders have been making life hard for him all game.

Uruguay will be upset that a penalty wasn’t called early in the first half, but their failure to create chances early on will haunt them, and cause their early exit.

Uruguay isn’t mathematically out, however they would need Jamaica to beat Mexico, Venezuela to beat Mexico, and to beat Jamaica by a massive scoreline. They will be upset with their overall performance.