Manuel Ugarte scored the decisive goal in the fifth round of the shootout leading Uruguay to a 4-2 victory over Brazil on penalty kicks, securing their spot in the Copa America semifinals. The match ended in a scoreless draw, showcasing a physical game with a total of 41 fouls and only four shots on goal from both teams.
Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández received a red card in the 74th minute for a dangerous tackle on Rodrygo, leaving his team with 10 players, but Brazil failed to capitalize on the advantage in the remaining 21 minutes. The shootout saw Uruguay take a 3-1 lead after three rounds, with goalkeeper Sergio Rochet’s crucial stops and Alisson Becker’s save on José María Giménez’s shot keeping Brazil’s hopes alive briefly until Ugarte sealed the win.
Following the intense match, Uruguay will face Colombia in the semifinals on Wednesday in Charlotte. Colombia demonstrated their prowess by defeating Panama 5-0, extending their unbeaten streak to 27 matches. The other semifinal will feature defending champions Argentina against Canada on Tuesday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with the final scheduled for July 14 in Miami Gardens.
Brazil was without Vinícius Júnior, suspended after accumulating two yellow cards, and Neymar, who has been sidelined since sustaining a knee injury last fall against Uruguay. Despite Uruguay’s victory being their first in 13 encounters since 2001, coach Marcelo Bielsa’s team has now claimed consecutive wins over Brazil for the first time since 1992.
