By Edgardo Avelar
With a great performance by the goalkeeper of Internacional de Porto Alegre, Sergio Rochet, stopping two penalties in the final series of penalty kicks, He pushed Uruguay to eliminate the powerful Brazil 4-2after a close and disputed 90 minutes in which the Uruguayan team led by the Argentine Marcelo Bielsa overcame the expulsion of Nahitan Nández and ended up winning the biggest duel in football.
Once Brazil was sent back home, Uruguay will now put its forces at the command of the spectacular Colombia, in one of the two semifinals of the Copa América 2024, It is expected to be a close fight, with no quarter given and no quarter asked between two very different styles of football that will take place in North Carolina.
Rochet was undoubtedly the man of the night by stopping the shooting of Eder Melitao and Douglas Luiz, which was the prelude to the Brazilian tragedy that has long since become a common and ordinary selection, without players capable of putting the ounce on the court that tips the balance in their favor.
So with this great night for Rochet where he even beat his rival, the Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson, who stopped José María Jiménez’s shot, which made one think of a great feat of returning to the match, but where Manuel Ugarte’s shot ended the Brazilian dreams of emerging from the ashes to achieve victory.
Thus, Brazil leaves the Copa America after giving a lackluster image, with only one victory in four games and which calls into question the work of coach Dorival, especially since the Brazilian magic was never able to appear and to top it all off, playing this key duel without their great figure Vinícius Júnior,
The reality is that in chapter 80 of this rivalry, Uruguay was now able to impose itself on the Brazilians, breaking the game circuits, starting from the generation of Bruno Guimaraes and Joao Gomes, but above all of Rapinha and the rookie sensation Endrick, who at 17 years old was thrown onto the field hoping to find the magic that the great Pelé once had when he debuted at the same age.
Uruguay seemed comfortable with this style of waiting and despairing the Brazilians, but at the same time trying to make Darwin Núñez’s attacks have some kind of success, but in the end in their fruitless battles against Marquinhos and Militao ended up driving the Uruguayan striker to despair.
ANDIn the shootout, the Charrúas took the risk, relying on Rochet’s ability, and the tactic worked for them, as Valverde started off strong with a cross-shot right-footed shot and a low shot that gave Alisson no chance. Militao missed the first goal for Brazil. Bentancur and De Arrascaeta were unforgiving. Andreas Pereira raised Brazil’s expectations when he missed his shot and they grew with Douglas Luiz’s shot that went in close to the post. Ugarte was unforgiving and prolonged the journey of the Celeste in this Copa America.
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