U.S. falls to Uruguay, eliminated from Copa America

Field Level Media|published: Mon 1st July, 23:17 2024

Jul 1, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; United States forward Christian Pulisic (10) and Uruguay defender Mathias Olivera (16) fight for the ball during the first half of a Copa America match at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

The United States crashed out of the Copa America on Monday, losing 1-0 to Group C winner Uruguay in Kansas City, Mo.

Panama claimed the group's second qualifying spot to the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Bolivia on Monday in Orlando.

Uruguay (3-0-0, 9 points) will play the Group D runner-up, either Colombia, Brazil or Costa Rica, in Las Vegas on Saturday. Panama (2-1-0, 6 points) will face the Group D winner in Glendale, Ariz., on Saturday.

With the Panama result, the U.S. (1-2-0, 3 points) needed to win at least 2-1 to advance.

Mathias Olivera scored a controversial goal in the 66th minute, moments after the crowd was buzzing with the news that Bolivia had tied Panama 1-1 to put the U.S. in the advancing spot.

Olivera put in a rebound of a Ronald Araujo header from a set piece. Even though replays appeared to show the play was offside, the goal was not overturned.

The United States entered the match tied with Panama at three points, but the Americans had goal-differential tiebreaker. The U.S. was put in this predicament because of its stunning 2-1 loss to Panama in the second match.

The best U.S. chance came on Monday in the 75th minute when Manuel Ugarte cleared a Christian Pulisic shot with the goalkeeper out of position.

U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner started despite having been replaced at halftime of the Panama match following a collision the produced a left leg contusion.

There was one change for the U.S., necessitated by the 18th-minute red card to Tim Weah vs. Panama. Yunus Musah replaced him.

The first half was a physical mess with inexperienced referee Kevin Paolo Ortega having trouble maintaining control.

Uruguayan forward Maximiliano Araujo was stretchered off in the 27th minute after he went headfirst into the ground after he was bumped following a collision with U.S. defender Tim Ream.

U.S. forward Folarin Balogun left in the 41st minute due to an injury.

Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa served a suspension issued by the South America federation after his players returned from their locker room late for the start of the second half in the previous match.

--Field Level Media

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