Uruguay cruises past Bolivia with 5-0 victory to claim place in Copa America knockout stages, as mega clash with desperate United States looms on Monday

The two-time world champion’s supporters expected a cheerful evening: from the honking cars playing Uruguay’s national anthem as they entered the parking lots of the MetLife Stadium to the crowd filling up on Darwin more than an hour before kick-off Nunez fans.

And the Uruguayans got one in New Jersey, spending most of the game in cruise control and overpowering the lowly Bolivian opponents at every turn.

An eighth-minute header from Facundo Pellistri secured Uruguay a place in the knockout rounds of the 2024 Copa America, with a 5-0 result at the final whistle confirming their place in the last eight and the likely top spot as Group C winners.

Bolivia’s chances of advancing are all but gone unless a Panama blowout, combined with a United States drubbing of the Uruguayan team that has dominated the country, is in order on Monday.

In the earlier Group C match on Thursday, Panama defeated the United States, who played most of the match with 10 men, putting the hosts in a difficult position to qualify for the quarterfinals on home soil.

Federico Valverde scored in the 81st minute to give his team a 4–0 lead over Bolivia

Without Luis Suarez in the starting line-up, Marcelo Bielsa’s side struggled for most of the South American match.

Nunez set the tone for the match in the second minute, narrowly missing a free header that Bolivia goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra froze.

The Liverpool star did not have to wait long for redemption, scoring his team’s second goal in the 21st minute, his seventh straight game with a goal for Uruguay.

It was the 30th minute before Bolivia found real pressure in the Uruguay half of the pitch, but goalkeeper Sergio Rochet was rarely tested on the night.

Bolivian supporters in the crowd were hoping for something to celebrate themselves, as an apparent coup attempt has taken place in the country over the past two days.

Armored vehicles rammed doors on Wednesday and soldiers stormed government buildings as a senior government official warned of an attempted coup.

Darwin Nunez scored in the 21st minute, his seventh consecutive goal for his country

Bolivian fans came to MetLife Stadium hoping for something to cheer about on Thursday

The country’s President Luis Arce came face to face with the commander in chief of the army, Juan José Zúñiga, in the hall of the Palacio Quemado, as chaos broke out in the capital, La Paz.

But Arce vowed to remain steadfast and condemned the “irregular” deployment of troops as tanks and soldiers stormed municipal buildings and tear gas filled the streets.

Less than an hour later, Arce announced the new army, navy and air force leaders to loud cheers from his supporters. He thanked the country’s police and regional allies for their support.

Arce said the troops who rebelled against him “stained the uniform of the army.”

“I order all those mobilized to return to their units,” new army chief José Wilson Sánchez said. ‘No one wants the images we see on the streets.’

Still, Bolivian fans, who were outnumbered by their Uruguayan rivals, celebrated their participation in the continental tournament despite the problems in South America.

Uruguay added a third goal in the 77th minute from a dribbler by Maximiliano Araujo that slipped past Viscarra,

Immediately after the 3-0 lead, the Uruguayan crowd chants ‘Suarez! Suarez!’ filled MetLife Stadium.

Suarez was substituted in the 83rd minute to the delight of the Montevideo North crowd, just after his team extended their lead to 4-0 with a goal from Federico Valverde.

Uruguay made a strong impression at the end of the match with their fifth goal, a powerful header from Rodrigo Bentancur from a cross by Giorgian de Arrascaeta.