Marsch praises Canada after Uruguay defeat to finish successful Copa America debut.

Uruguay secured third place in the Copa America after defeating Canada on penalties in a thrilling encounter at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Uruguay emerging victorious in the shootout, winning 4-3.

Goalkeeper Sergio Rochet was the hero for Uruguay, saving Ismael Kone’s shot, while Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar for Canada. Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Luis Suarez all converted their penalties for Uruguay, while Jonathan David, Moise Bombito, and Mathieu Choiniere scored for Canada.

Suarez’s last-minute goal in the 92nd minute equalized the score for Uruguay, forcing the game into penalties after extra time was scrapped in the tournament. Canada had taken the lead in the 80th minute through Jonathan David, who capitalized on a long-range shot from Kone that was parried by Rochet.

Rodrigo Bentancur had opened the scoring for Uruguay early in the first half, smashing home from a corner. However, Kone leveled the score with a spectacular bicycle kick just 14 minutes later.

Canada’s impressive performance in reaching the semi-finals has been one of their best tournament showings in recent times. The team appears rejuvenated under American coach Jesse Marsch, who was appointed in May. Canada will co-host the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and the United States, who had a disappointing Copa America campaign and sacked head coach Gregg Berhalter.

Marsch praised his team’s performance against Uruguay, highlighting the difficulty of building a tactical model in a short time against strong opponents. He expressed his satisfaction with the positive signs and the potential of the team.

On the other hand, Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa believed his team could have performed better but was grateful for the victory following their disappointing semi-final loss to Colombia. Bielsa acknowledged the challenge of maintaining motivation in the third-place match but emphasized the pride and competition for the national team’s shirt.

Defending champions Argentina will face Colombia in the final at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Sunday. A victory for Argentina would see them surpass Uruguay as the most successful Copa America side, with both teams currently tied with 15 titles.