Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez had just 22 touches as Uruguay confirmed top spot in its Copa America group. Napoli defender Mathias Oliveira scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over the US in Missouri.
Nunez, who had found the back of the net in each of his last seven appearances for Uruguay heading into the game, struggled to get involved in the action. The Liverpool man picked up a booking and had only one shot.
Nevertheless, Uruguayan outlet La Diaria suggested Nunez was a “beast” during the game and even though he didn’t score, it claims Nunez “contributed a lot”. El Observador, meanwhile, praised Nunez for some “spectacular” play during the early stages of the game, suggesting that he “demanded” a lot of the US center-backs with his running.
His country got the job done, knocking out the host nation for the tournament in the process. The US finished third in the group, three points behind Panama, with Christian Pulisic and co only able to beat Bolivia.
Former Liverpool man Luis Suarez was the player to replace Nunez on 89 minutes. And Uruguay was able to hold on for the three points that sealed first place.
In the quarter-finals of the competition, though, it could still face Alisson Becker and Brazil or Luis Diaz and Colombia. Those two teams will face each other late on Tuesday US time (early hour of Wednesday in the UK).
As it stands, Brazil is second in the group but if the Selecao win against Colombia, would overtake them and end up topping the standings. In that case, Uruguay and Nunez would face Diaz next. Nunez could also come up against Costa Rica in the last eight if Brazil loses to Colombia and Costa Rica beats Paraguay.
Alexis Mac Allister and Argentina remain in the tournament too and they play Ecuador next, with a favorable route to the final. Lionel Messi’s side would then be involved all the way until July 14, which is the same day as the European Championship final in Germany.
