MADRID, 24 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Uruguayan team debuted this Sunday in the Copa América with a convincing victory against Panama (3-1), in a duel in which the Barcelona player Ronald Araujo had to be replaced at half-time due to dizziness, while the United States also debuted with a solid victory against Bolivia (2-0), with a beautiful goal from Christian Pulisic, both matches in Group C.
Marcelo Bielsa’s men began their journey in the Copa América convincingly with a very complete match against Panama. The Uruguayans dominated in the first 45 minutes, boosted by Maxi Araújo’s goal in the first minutes. The Toluca winger received on the left and after cutting inside he took a great shot to open the scoring and lead to the victory.
With Real Madrid player Fede Valverde less free than in the white club and acting in the double pivot alongside Ugarte, Uruguay had many opportunities to extend their advantage, but they went into the break with that minimum advantage. It was then that Bielsa had to replace an Araujo affected by the high temperatures at which the match was played, even suffering from dizziness and a drop in blood pressure.
In the second half, the ‘charrúas’ suffered more, after not being effective in the first half, and had to finish the match in the final stretch. A mistaken Darwin Núñez retaliated with his goal in the 85th minute and Matìas Viña headed in the third. Panama celebrated the honor with a great goal from Murillo in stoppage time that made it 3-1.
The United States, host of this Copa América, did not fail in its debut either. Gregg Berhalter’s men finished the match before the break, driven by a first goal, the fastest by the North American team in the tournament – at two minutes and 23 seconds -, the work of Christian Pulisic, who sent a shot from the left from outside to inside, with coba, directly to the squad furthest from the rival goal.
And when half-time was approaching, it was Folarin Balogun who scored with a powerful left foot shot inside the area, assisted by Pulisic who was the true leader of his team. The dominance of the Americans never disappeared, and Bolivia had no reaction at any time, with Milan forward Ricardo Pepi and Timothy Weah being the ones who created the most danger in the match.