It wasn’t pretty, but Uruguay are through to the Copa America semi-finals after penalties against Brazil. Read how it went down, and check out the best facts and Opta data with our Uruguay vs Brazil stats page.
Brazil were dumped out of the Copa America by 10-man Uruguay, who survived Nahitan Nández’s red card to win on penalties after a bad-tempered, goalless quarter-final.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team played the final 16 minutes a man down after Nández was dismissed for a reckless lunge on Rodrygo, but with star winger Vinícius Júnior suspended, Brazil were unable to find a winner and were made to pay in the shootout.
Sergio Rochet saved from Éder Militão before Douglas Luiz struck the post, and though José Giménez squandered Uruguay’s first chance to win it, Manuel Ugarte made no mistake with their next attempt.
They will now face Colombia in the last four after James Rodríguez inspired Los Cafeteros to a 5-0 rout of Panama, while Brazil’s wait for a 10th Copa title goes on.
Brazil struggled to match Uruguay’s intensity early on and survived a couple of close calls. Darwin Núñez saw a header hit Militão and drop just wide of the left-hand post before Mathías Olivera powered over the crossbar from the resulting corner.
The Seleção’s first opening came just before the half-hour mark as Endrick intercepted a loose back pass from Matías Viña before finding Raphinha, who was just unable to get his shot off.
Uruguay lost Ronald Araujo to a hamstring injury 33 minutes in, and though the game became littered with fouls, both sides carved out chances before the interval.
Núñez should have done better when he headed Nández’s glorious right-wing cross over, then Raphinha twice shot straight at Rochet after scampering in behind.
Federico Valverde fired over after the break as the blood-and-thunder nature of the game continued. Referee Dario Herrera repeatedly dipped into his pocket as the challenges became ever more rugged, and with 74 minutes played, he brandished a red card.
Originally booked for catching Rodrygo in full flight with his studs high on his opponent’s ankle, Nández was given his marching orders following a VAR review.
Penalties were Uruguay’s goal from then on as they sacrificed Núñez for an extra defensive body and sat deep, and they got over the line as Endrick sent a tame effort straight at Rochet, making it three of four Copa quarter-finals to go to a shootout this year.
While Uruguay’s first three kicks were perfect, Rochet got down to palm Militão’s effort away and Luiz struck the left post, putting La Celeste on the brink.
Captain Giménez was denied by a fine stop by Alisson, but Ugarte kept his nerve to blast his kick home and win the tie.
Uruguay Battle Through
Alongside the vibrant atmospheres and silky skills on display at the Copa America, the tournament is often characterised by a little rough and tumble.
That was certainly the case on Saturday, with Uruguay’s 26 fouls committed the highest figure recorded by any team at this year’s tournament, the previous high being 20 (by three teams).
Endrick and Rodrygo were bullied out of the contest, even failing to make their mark after Nandez’s terrible challenge on the latter gave the Selecao a one-man advantage.
While Uruguay have won plaudits for their free-flowing approach under Bielsa at this tournament, it was their old grit that got them over the line on Saturday, with South America’s great overachievers punching above their weight once again.
Penalty Pain for Toothless Brazil
Penalties were Brazil’s nemesis at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as they were stunned by Croatia at the quarter-final stage, and it was a similar story here.
It was their failings in regulation time, however, that cost them.
After Nández’s 74th-minute dismissal, Brazil only managed two shots of any description. The first came from the free-kick that resulted from Nández’s foul, and the second was a tame 20-yard attempt from Endrick.
Endrick, remarkably, played the full 90 minutes and only completed one pass, from kick-off.
In total, the two teams managed just 21 touches in the opposing penalty areas, the joint-fewest in any game at this tournament, alongside Costa Rica versus Paraguay.
Our Opta match centre delivers you all the Uruguay vs Brazil stats from their Copa America 2024 knockout clash at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
The match centre below includes team and player stats, expected goals data, passing networks, an Opta chalkboard and more. It gives you everything you need to do your own post-match analysis.
Underneath the match centre you can find the official Opta stats on the game as well.
Uruguay vs Brazil: Post-Match Facts
- Uruguay hadn’t avoided defeat in a CONMEBOL Copa America match in which they had a player sent off since 2011, when, just like today against Brazil, they eliminated Argentina on penalties. That match also marked La Celeste’s last victory in a penalty shootout.
- Uruguay recorded their third consecutive match without conceding a goal and has the longest clean sheet streak among the four semifinalists. Additionally, La Celeste have conceded only one goal (vs. Panama) in their last seven Copa America matches.
- Uruguay and Brazil have faced each other 27 times in the Copa America, and with today’s draw in regular time, the record is exactly equal: nine wins each and nine draws.
- Uruguay’s 26 fouls are the most by any team in a match at the 2024 Copa America and the most conceded by La Celeste in the competition since the start of the 2015 edition.
- Uruguay hadn’t reached the semifinals of the Copa America since 2011, the year they last won the title. La Celeste had endured three consecutive quarterfinal appearances without advancing, with two of those being decided by penalties (2019 and 2021).
- Brazil have lost only one of the 12 quarterfinal matches they have played in the Copa America (W5 D6 L1), progressing on seven of those occasions.
- Today’s penalty shootout was the fourth between Brazil and Uruguay in the Copa America. Each side has emerged victorious twice: La Celeste in the 1995 final and 2024 quarterfinal, and the Verdeamarela in the semifinals in 2004 and 2007.
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