Follow live reaction as Uruguay began their 2024 Copa America campaign with an entertaining victory over Panama
Michael Dominski
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Michael Dominski·Live Reporter
Result: Uruguay 3-1 Panama
- 16': Maximiliano Araújo opens the scoring with a powerful strike
- 85': After missing several chances, Darwin Nunez finally scores with a great volley
- 90+1': Matías Viña heads home to pad Uruguay's lead
- 90+4': Amir Murillo scores a late consolation for Panama
- USMNT beat Bolivia 2-0 in earlier Group C game
Group C outlook
With wins for the USMNT and Uruguay in the bag, here are the remaining fixtures in Group C.
Thursday June 27
- Panama vs USMNT in Atlanta, Georgia
- Uruguay vs Bolivia in East Rutherford, New Jersey
Monday July 1
- USMNT vs Uruguay in Kansas City, Missouri
- Bolivia vs Panama in Orlando, Florida
That US-Uruguay showdown at Arrowhead Stadium on the final matchday could be decisive in determining who tops this group.
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Attacking from every angle
In a reflection of Uruguay's constant attacking threat in this match, eight of their 10 outfield starters recorded at least one shot, the lone exceptions being Nahitan Nández and Facundo Pellistri.
Match stats
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Uruguay 3-1 Panama
- Expected goals: 1.57 - 0.57
- Shots: 20 - 10
- Shots on goal: 7 - 3
- Saves: 2 - 4
- Possession: 55% - 45%
- Corners: 9 - 3
- Offsides: 3 - 1
- Fouls: 12 - 9
- Yellow cards: 0 - 1
Takeaways from Uruguay's win over Panama
The Athletic’s Thom Harris and Adam Crafton were at Hard Rock Stadium tonight to watch this match, and have brought us instant reaction to Uruguay's victory.
Follow the link below to check out their analysis of Darwin Nunez's performances, Maxi Araujo's stunning strike, and more!
Viña's contributions
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With his goal in the 91st minute and his assist on Maxi Araújo's goal in the 16th minute, Matías Viña has become the first Uruguayan other than Luis Suarez to record a goal and an assist in a single Copa America match since 2011.
Group C standings
After that late flurry of goals, here's how Group C looks after the first pair of matches.
Group C table
- Uruguay: 3 points, +2 goal difference, 3 goals for
- USMNT: 3 pts, +2 gd, 2 gf
- Panama: 0 pts, -2 gd, 1 gf
- Bolivia: 0 pts, -2 gd, 0 gf
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FT: Uruguay 3-1 Panama
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Murillo's goal was nearly the last kick of the game, as the referee whistles for full time immediately after play is restarted.
How frustrating for Rochet and Bielsa for Uruguay to lose their clean sheet in the game's final seconds.
GOAL: Panama score late!
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90+4' Uruguay 3-1 Panama
Uruguay fall asleep at the back as Murillo finds himself in acres of space on the right side. He cuts inside a defender and beats Rochet at the far post with a lovely curling shot.
GOAL: Uruguay score a third!
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90+1' Uruguay 3-0 Panama
Right on cue, Uruguay get their third! De la Cruz floats a great delivery into the box from a free kick, and Viña heads home!
FOUR minutes added on
90+1' Uruguay 2-0 Panama
Four minutes for Uruguay to pad their goal difference.
Goal stands!
87' Uruguay 2-0 Panama
Some anxious moments for Nunez and Uruguay as VAR reviewed that goal for offside, but it's given!
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GOAL: Uruguay score their second!
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85' Uruguay 2-0 Panama
Nunez finally gets his goal! Maxi Araujo, the scorer of the first goal, heads the ball down to Nunez and the Liverpool man smashes a volley home!
Bentancur on for Valverde
85' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
Panama make two more subs, bringing Freddy Góndola and Eduardo Guerrero on for José Rodríguez and José Fajardo.
Uruguay do likewise, replacing Fede Valverde with Rodrigo Bentancur.
Crowds wants Suarez
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78' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
Suarez is shown on the big screen, prompting loud cheers from the Uruguay supporters all around the stadium.
Dangerous free kick for Panama
77' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
Panama win a free kick in a great shooting position. Murillo gets his shot over the wall but can't get it down in time to hit the target.
De la Cruz off-target
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72' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
A Panama turnover deep in their own territory allows De la Cruz to collect possession in a dangerous position, but he goes for goal from the edge of the box and misses the target badly.
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Welch booked
68' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
Welch has only been on the field for three minutes but he's already picked up the first yellow card of the match, penalized for catching Nandez late on his follow-through.
Nandez looked to be in serious pain after taking Welch's cleats to his ankle.
Valverde goes for goal
66' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
Valverde drills a shot from well outside the box that fizzes through traffic and just wide of the far post.
If you saw Valverde's goal against Manchester City in this past season's Champions League, you know the Real Madrid man can hit some sweet strikes.
Panama's first sub
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65' Uruguay 1-0 Panama
Panama make their first change, bringing Jovani Welch on for Christian Martínez.
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