Copa America 2011, Uruguay Vs. Peru: Another Heavy Favorite Forced To Settle For Draw

Uruguay got off to a slow start and were made to pay for it in the 23rd minute when Paolo Guerrero put them behind. As was the case for most of the beginning of the match Uruguay knocked the ball around without much of a problem, but they were too narrow so when they got into the attacking third they had nowhere to go and gave the ball away. This time, Peru made them pay for it when they quickly turned into the attack with one long ball over the top. With Uruguay’s defense playing a very high line and looking to the linesman for offside, Guerrero was running onto the pass over the top. He gathered, had no problem rounding the keeper and finished to put the underdogs ahead, 1-0.

With the way that Uruguay finished the first half it seemed like they would go on to plow through Peru in the second half, but that was hardly the case. Not only did Uruguay not dominate Peru, but Peru actually got better in the second 45 minutes and the match began to even out. Both side had a few half chances, but nothing golden and Uruguay had to settle for their disappointing draw, while Peru’s boisterous fans late on in the match signaled just how happy Peru were to have their point.

With Uruguay struggling to do much with their possession in the final third, Peru looked comfortable and after 23 minutes they had every reason to feel exceedingly comfortable. One again Uruguay gave the ball away in the attacking half and Peru countered quickly with a long ball over the top of the Uruguay backline. WIth the defense looking for an offisde call, Guerrero was running onto the ball, sidestepped the goalkeeper and finishing to put Peru ahead, 1-0.

Fernandez couldn’t do anything about Suarez’s goal though. The Peru backline that had been so organized was all over the place and kept Suarez onside as he made a run from just outside the 18-yard box. He gathered a good pass just 15 yards from the goal and calmly finished past a helpless Fernandez to level just seconds before the referee blew his whistle for the end of the first half.

Uruguay had the better of possession in the early going, but hadn’t really threatened the Peruvian goal. After they gave the ball away in the attacking half, Peru quickly counter-attacker. They played a long ball over the top and Guerrero beat Uruguay’s offside trap. With the defense looking to the linesman, Guerrero was running onto the long pass and was in alone with just the goalkeeper to beat. He had no trouble sidestepping the keeper before finishing into the open net and Peru had themselves a 1-0 lead.

Edinson Cacani has never been someone to overlook. In the two years before the World Cup, Cavani scored a total of 20 goals in Serie A for Palermo. He never quite made his mark internationally though. After the World Cup though, he caught fire. Since the tournament he’s scored six goals for Uruguay. At the same time, he took his play for his club, now Napoli, to a whole other level. He scored 33 times last season to help lead Napoli to a UEFA Champions League place.

It was a dream season for Cavani to move himself into rarified air. No longer is he mentioned as an afterthought to Forlan and Suarez when discussing Uruguay. Now he’s not only being mentioned as possibly Uruguay’s most dangerous player, but one of the most dangerous strikers anywhere in the world.

Peru (5-3-2): Raul Fernandez; Walter Vilchez, Santiano Acasiete, Renzo Revoredo, Alberto Rodriguez, Victor Yotun; Adan Balbin, Michael Guevara, Josepmir Ballon; Paolo Guerrero, Luis Advincula

Arguably the most entertaining team at the 2010 World Cup, Uruguay open their Copa America campaign against a Peru team that is missing their two best attacking players, Jefferson Farfan and Claudio Pizarro. If this game resembles the first three, there is truly no order to the world of international football.

Please save us from this boring football hell, Uruguay.