Match 31 - Uruguay 2-2 Canada
If either the COPA or EURO final matches this most despised of games, the third palce play-off, then there will be some fine entertainment enjoyed.
As many will have expected Uruguay overcame the disappointment of missing out on the final by giving Luis Suarez one last moment of glory at the end of his international career. Bronze may not be the lustre he'd have wanted, but it's something.
But the blank result tells nothing of the match itself.
When Urugauy scored in the 8th minute they possibly thought that Canada's brave resistence was broken and a stroll to the win was now on the cards. Instead, Canada equalised a quarter of an hour later, and the teams went toe-to-toe with Canada narrowly having the better of possession and chances.
When Canada scored in the 80th minute it looked as if those marginally better statistics were going to produce a shock. Two minutes into injury time Luis Suarez had a shot saved but Canada couldn't clear their box and when José Giménez fed the ball back to Suarez seconds later, he smashed the equaliser home.
A few minutes later it moved to penalties. Canada had one saved and one come off the bar, Uruguay scored all four they took. Such are the margins of elation and despair.
Congratulations to Canada who, in their first ever participation in the tournament, match the USA in achieving fourth place in a COPA América.
| Match Number | Teams | 1st Half Score | 2nd Half Score | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Uruguay v Canada | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2-2 |
| Total Matchday Goals | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
| Total Tournament Goals | 30 | 39 | 69 |
The Final Match is:
| Team A | Team B | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Colombia | Miami, FL |
text by stuartcturnbull art by CONMEBOL & altered by stuartcturnbull