Argentina won 1-0 over Uruguay in the 2021 Copa America group stage match at the Mane Garrincha Stadium, Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday (19/6).
Lionel Messi and his friends have threatened Uruguay’s defense since the beginning of the match. In the eighth minute the opportunity was wasted because of goalkeeper Fernando Muslera’s rescue.
The Tango team took the lead in the 13th minute. Starting from a corner kick, Lionel Messi’s cross was completed well by Guido Rodriguez.
After Rodriguez’s goal, Argentina continued to threaten through Messi’s movements. While Uruguay struggled to win the duel in the middle so there was no flow of the ball for Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani.
In the 29th minute, Edinson Cavani fell in the penalty box after outwitting Rodriguez. However, the referee did not consider it a violation to not award a penalty for Uruguay.
Shortly after that, it was Argentina who almost doubled the position. Through a counter-attack, Nahuel Molina, who had space in the penalty box, kicked off hard. This effort failed to add goal because Muslera could still mute it.
In the 42nd minute, Rodrigo Bentancur tried his luck with a long-range shot. The trial of this Juventus player has not endangered the Argentine goal because it is still wide.
The score 1-0 for Argentina’s advantage lasted until the first half ended.
Only in the second half did Uruguay have a chance through Federico Valverde in the 50th minute.
The match took place at a moderate tempo. Uruguay, who began to find the rhythm of the game continues to try to break through the Argentine defense area.
Argentina responded to Uruguay’s mastery by playing patiently and tightly so that it left no space in the middle of the field.
Argentina’s strategy worked. Uruguay was not able to take advantage of the presence of Suarez and Cavani on the front lines.
Long lost possession of the ball, Argentina again took the initiative to control the match. But not for the purpose of scoring goals, but simply to maintain the advantage. Argentina’s final score leads 1-0.
In the previous Group A match, Chile secured all three points after a 1-0 win over Bolivia thanks to a Ben Brereton goal.