From car horns imitating the Uruguayan national anthem as they entered the MetLife Stadium parking lots, to the pro-Darwin Núñez crowd filling the lower stadium inside the venue more than an hour before kickoff, fans of the two-time champions of The World Cup expected a joyful night.
And the Uruguayans got one in New Jersey, spending most of the match controlling the pace, dominating their lowly Bolivian opponents throughout.
A header from Facundo Pellistri in the eighth minute sealed Uruguay’s passage to the knockout rounds of the 2024 Copa América. And with the final whistle, a 5-0 result confirmed their place in the last eight and the probable summit as champions of Group C.
Bolivia’s chances of advancing are all but gone unless a rout of Panama, combined with a United States thrashing of the Uruguay team that dominated it, is scheduled for Monday.
In Thursday’s Group C match, Panama stunned the United States, which played with 10 men for most of the match, putting the hosts in a tough spot to qualify for the quarterfinals at home.
Uruguay officially advanced to the round of 16 of the 2024 Copa América with the victory
Federico Valverde scored in the 81st minute to give his team a 4-0 lead over Bolivia.
The mood during the press availability was clearly different for both teams.
Most of the Bolivian squad couldn’t leave MetLife Stadium quickly enough, although some players stayed to answer questions from the press.
While some Bolivian players conducted interviews, the Uruguayan players made their way through the same mixed zone with many smiles on their faces.
A member of the Uruguayan team played mariachi music through a boombox while walking behind their Bolivian opponents.
While Nunez made his way through the press room in about 10 seconds, stopping to speak only to one reporter dressed in a Chilean national team shirt, Federico Valverde appeared much more composed, knowing that the triumph in question paled in comparison to what awaits the national team he captains.
Valverde, who plays a huge role for Real Madrid at club level, knows he must look no further than the United States on Monday, even with a possible clash with Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Without Luis Suarez in the starting XI, it was a piece of cake for much of the South American clash for Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
Núñez set the tone of the match in the second minute, narrowly missing a free header that froze Bolivian goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.
The Liverpool star did not have to wait long to redeem himself, scoring his side’s second goal in the 21st minute, his seventh consecutive goal for Uruguay.
It was the 30th minute when Bolivia began to exert real pressure on Uruguay’s half of the field, but they rarely tested goalkeeper Sergio Rochet on the night.
Bolivian fans in the crowd were hoping to have something to celebrate, following an apparent coup attempt that took place in the country over the past two days.
Armored vehicles rammed into gates and soldiers stormed government buildings on Wednesday as a senior government official warned of a coup attempt.
Darwin Núñez scored in the 21st minute, his seventh consecutive game with a goal for his country.
Bolivian fans showed up at MetLife Stadium hoping for something to cheer about on Thursday.
The country’s president, Luis Arce, came face to face with Army Commander General Juan José Zúñiga in the hallway of the Palacio Quemado as chaos unfolded in the capital, La Paz.
But Arce vowed to stand firm and criticized the “irregular” deployment of troops as tanks and soldiers invaded municipal buildings and tear gas filled the streets.
Less than an hour later, Arce announced new army, navy and air force chiefs amid roars from his supporters, and thanked the country’s police and regional allies for supporting him.
Arce said the troops who rose up against him were “staining the uniform” of the army.
“I order all those mobilized to return to their units,” said the newly appointed army chief, José Wilson Sánchez. “Nobody wants the images we are seeing on the streets.”
However, Bolivian fans, vastly outnumbered by their Uruguayan rivals, celebrated their participation in the continental tournament despite the problems in South America.
The Bolivian players just wanted to focus on football after the loss to Uruguay.
“We know that it will be like this, that it will be difficult. That we are facing rivals who are, you could say, much higher than ours,” said Bolivian goalkeeper Gustavo Almada. “We will try to improve, correct details, so that we can achieve the long-awaited change that we want for our football.”
Uruguay added a third goal in the 77th minute when Maximiliano Araujo dribbled past Viscarra.
Immediately after the 3-0, the Uruguayan public shouts ‘Suárez! Suarez!’ MetLife Stadium packed.
Suárez came on in the 83rd minute to the delight of the Montevideo Norte fans, moments after his team extended their lead to 4-0 with a goal from Federico Valverde.
Uruguay put a strong stamp at the end of the match with its fifth goal, a powerful header from Rodrigo Bentancur after a cross from Giorgian de Arrascaeta.
