For the U.S. men’s national team, Monday’s Copa America decider against Uruguay is the most important game in its history under coach Gregg Berhalter. For Uruguay, it’s a Monday.
Sure, Uruguay, the small country that has become a soccer giant, needs a win or a draw over the U.S. to win Group C and set itself up for a quarterfinal match, but the U.S. national team has shown no indication that it is on the same level as La Celeste. Uruguay has done well in its two group matches so far, crushing Bolivia 5-0 and Panama 3-1.
The Americans opened the tournament with a 2-0 win over Bolivia, arguably the worst team competing in the 2024 Copa America, and lost 2-1 to 10-man Panama after Tim Weah was shown a red card for a mindless foul early in the match.
Weah’s ejection makes things even more difficult for the U.S. team, as he has been suspended for two games and will miss Monday’s match. So now the U.S. team is essentially facing a must-win scenario against Uruguay to advance to the quarterfinals. Anything less than three points on Monday night, and the U.S. will have to rely on a better result than Panama in its simultaneous match against Bolivia. It’s a long shot, but the U.S. has a chance, albeit an unlikely one, to keep its tournament run alive.
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Live Score: United States 0-0 Uruguay
Back…
With more scrums and intense challenges.
Weston McKennie creates the first chance of the second half but fires over the bar from 20 yards out, off balance.
Half-time: USA 0-0 Uruguay
It was a very good performance in the US. But as it stands, it’s not good enough.
With Panama winning, the Americans will need to find a goal from somewhere. For a while, they looked capable. But then their leading scorer, Folarin Balogun, left the game with an injury.
They will also have to match Uruguay’s physical output over 90 minutes, which is a tall order.
I’m doing my best as a football match referee. It’s my first day. Sorry. Sorry.
Making simple mistakes like allowing an advantage after receiving a yellow card… and now, he called a handball for Uruguay even though the US had a clear lead with Christian Pulisic advancing down the right wing.
41′ Ricardo Pepi comes on to replace Folarin Balogun
Balo leaves injured
Folarin Balogun appears to be making improvements to his left leg after two recent collisions left him on the grass, one of which required prolonged treatment.
And… now he’s fallen.
Ricardo Pepi replaces him. A shame after Balo scored in each of the first two games.
But it was an amazing moment for Pepi.
Wild game
Three injury stoppages in the last 10 minutes.
Hard tackles, curious refereeing, general chaos.
The U.S. men’s national team has been keeping pace with Uruguay so far, perhaps more than many would expect.
The referee has already lost control. It seems he is caught between two minds.
He blew the whistle, he wanted to give the yellow, but since he was giving the yellow, he let Uruguay play fast while the USA and Richards were processing the yellow card.
Richards was shown a yellow card, but in the middle of showing the yellow card, play is allowed to continue and Ream clears a dangerous cross. Crazy that the foul was allowed when the yellow was shown. #wemnt
