Copa America: Team USA out; Uruguay and Panama Advance

As their respective matches played simultaneously in Kansas City and Orlando, Team USA and Panama traded second place Group C positions several times, for the key to the Copa America quarterfinals. 

• READ MORE: Bolivia 1-3 Panama: Highlights, stats and result
• READ MORE: Team USA 0-1 Uruguay: Highlights, stats and result
• READ MORE: Copa America Stats

Before the start of the matches, the US came in with the advantage of having more goals overall in Copa America than Panama, thus positioning them in second place pending the night’s results, and potentially remaining in that spot, if both games were to end in a tie. That changed 22 minutes after the game started when Panama scored their first goal against Bolivia.  

Going in, Team USA had the much tougher assignment of playing unbeaten Uruguay, while Panama faced a Bolivia that had lost their two Group stage games and was already out of contention to advance. Still, a two-way tie would’ve allowed the US passage into the quarterfinals. As Bolivia scored only their first goal of the tournament and tied the score with Panama, the US once again found themselves in second place.  

At the end, Panama scored another 2 goals, and Uruguay scored one of their own, albeit a controversial one as there was a clear off-side that was not called against them, and the US saw their hopes evaporate in what was otherwise a competitive match against the powerhouse South American team.

Copa America: United States 0-1 Uruguay

• Uruguay is undefeated

The ‘charrúas’ finished the group stage with a perfect record of three wins and nine points, qualifying for the quarterfinals while waiting for the second place in Group D to be decided. 

• Maxi Araújo set alarm bells ringing 

Uruguayan striker Maximiliano Araújo had to be stretchered off with a heavy blow to the head in a fall in the 27th minute and was replaced by Cristian Olivera.

“Maximiliano Araújo is fine, he had to be replaced due to a head trauma. He will undergo the corresponding studies,” Uruguay reported on its X account.

•  Soccer or NFL at Arrowhead?

 During the broadcast of the match between the United States and Uruguay, viewers were more concerned about the camera angle than the game itself at Arrowhead Stadium.

Not necessarily because of the spectacle on the field, but because it was practically impossible to appreciate the actions of the game in a good way, since the distance between the camera and the field was very far, which led to criticism from fans on social networks.

Bolivia 1-3 Panama 

• Panama and Canada left to represent CONCACAF

CONCACAF came out of the group stage alive, but not with Mexico or the United States, who seemed to be its best representatives before the start of the Copa América.

Instead, Canada and Panama took their places to mark historic participation as runners-up in Group A and C, respectively and will be looking to replicate their good fortune in the quarterfinals.

• Historic “100% female” refereeing trio 

Brazilians Edina Alves and Neuza Back, and Colombia’s Mary Blanco once again marked a historic milestone for women in soccer as the first female referees to officiate a Copa America match.

Alvez intervened as the first female central referee in the history of the tournament, while Back and Blanco did so as assistants, which “represents a step forward in the search for equality”, as reported by Conmebol.

• Bruno Miranda gave the only joy to Bolivia 

Unfortunately, had another forgettable Bolivia a Copa America without being able to earn a single point in the standings after their three matches.

Bolivian striker Bruno Miranda provided the team with its first and only goal in the tournament at minute 24 of the second half, and offered a momentary but desperately needed celebration for their anxious fans.