Uruguay wins record 15th Copa America
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Xinhua, July 25, 2011
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Uruguay's Luis Suarez (L) celebrates his goal during the final match of Copa America between Uruguay and Paraguay in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on July 24, 2011. (Xinhua/Martin Zabala) |
Uruguay won the Copa America on Sunday in Argentina after beating Paraguay by a convincing 3-0.
Luis Suarez and Diego Forlan were the scorers and gave Uruguay their 15th Copa America, one more than host Argentina (14).
On the other hand, the Paraguayans clinched the final berth without winning a single match in normal time (five draws, one loss) but their fortune ran out against Uruguay, superior in all the items, heart, efficacy and passes.
Atletico Madrid striker Forlan's two goals let him to tie Hector Scarone as Uruguay's top scorer ever with 31.
In the first 10 minutes, Uruguay pressured Paraguay and the goal seemed close.
After a pair of corner kicks that almost led to a goal, Luis Suarez scored in the 11th minute after a soft left-footed shot that appeared to take a deflection on defender Veron.f
The Liverpool striker was the man of the match and also the man of the tournament by decision of the organization.
Forlan scored the 2-0 minutes before the ending of the first half, to close a year without scoring as his last goal was made in the 2-3 against Germany at the South Africa World Cup.
The former Manchester United forward settled the 3-0 after finishing with class a one on one situation against Paraguayan goalkeeper Justo Villar, the best in that position according to the Copa America organizers.
The tournament will be remembered for the premature and humiliating exits of host nation Argentina and Brazil, both in the quarter-finals against today's finalists.
The final positions of the tournament are as follows: 1) Uruguay 2) Paraguay 3) Peru 4) Venezuela 5) Colombia 6) Chile 7) Argentina 8) Brazil 9) Costa Rica 10) Ecuador 11) Bolivia 12) Mexico.
The next Copa America will be hosted by Brazil in 2015, one year after the World Cup that also Brazil will organize.
