The ‘charrúa’ achieve their first title in the category with a goal from Luciano Rodríguez in the 86th minute
MADRID, 12 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Uruguayan Under-20 team was proclaimed world champion for the first time in its history this Sunday by beating Italy (1-0) in the final of the 2023 World Cup in the category held in Argentina, with a goal by Luciano Rodríguez in the minute 86.
The ‘charrúa’ team deservedly won the duel held at the Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona in La Plata (Buenos Aires), pressing harder and better in search of the goal, as well as displaying the strength of an insurmountable team.
Uruguay clinched the title, the first Under-20 World Cup in their record in the third final they played, conceding just three goals in seven games. The South American team jumped indomitable with four arrivals and a lot of intensity in the first 15 minutes of the final.
Italy threatened to wake up finding the individual quality of its most outstanding players. Pafundi, author of the great goal in the semifinals, was the one who showed the way, but there were few minutes of enjoyment for the Italians. Casadei, Prati or Baldanzi did not appear much more either, forced to contain.
Anderson Duarte had the clearest way to put Uruguay ahead and the final continued to be ‘charrúa’ after the restart, but with fewer arrivals, with an Italy without chances, and thicker. Both seemed to be defending well, but Luciano Rodríguez appeared in a corner kick at the far post of a play without a clear clearance.
The goal in the 86th minute was decisive for Uruguay to celebrate in 2023, in Argentina, a U-20 gold after losing the finals of 1997 and 2013, with a faith and union that could with many injuries and the sanction of Luciano himself in the quarterfinals and semifinals. Italy witnessed this and walked away with silver in their first final.