Copa America 2011 Semi-Final: Suarez Brace Takes Uruguay to Final

Luis Suarez: Peaking in Time

Uruguay finally lives up to their class in the Copa America 2011 Semi-Final clash on Tuesday at La Plata by defeating Peru 2-0. A double by Luis Suarez in a span of five minutes takes the fourteen times Copa Champions just a match away from their record title hope.

Coming into the match as firm favorites after knocking out Argentina in the Quarter Final, Uruguay pressed hard for an opener though out the first half. Peru on the other hand laid back and were content to play on the break. However the first half witnesses a tough football with neither of them leaving room which saw yellow cards being flash regularly.

Suarez added some spark for Oscar Tabarez side as he demonstrated his threat when he volleyed wide minutes after a free-kick from Diego Forlán just went over the bar. The lively Alvero Pareira also missed a closed range shot following a Suarez flick off a throw in, brilliantly saved by the Peru goalkeeper.

Peru did not create much chance except when Vargas’s wonderful cross from the left was just missed by Paolo Guerrero and Luis Advíncula. They were also fortunate to be disallowed a first half goal from Uruguay, as Pareira was ahead of the last defender, hence an offside.

After the break, Uruguay dominated the proceedings and did not take them long to assert their World Cup Semifinalists tag with Suarez scoring in the 53th minutes. Diego Forlan’s long low shot saw Peru keeper Raul Fernandez dived to his left to save. But Suarez pounce on the rebound and sent the ball into the open net from a sharp angle with Fernandez.

Within five minutes Suarez came up with his second goal when he took a pass near midfield that split two defenders and stepped around to the right of the charging goalkeeper and rolled the ball into an open net. To make matters worse, Peru’s captain, Juan Vargas, was sent off after 69 minutes, as he elbowed Sebastián Coates in the face-reacting to provocation from the defender.

Peru came close to another scoring chance in the 84th when Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera leaped high to stop Paolo Guerrero’s long shot. The ball slipped from Muslera’s hand, but he covered up quickly just inches from the goal line.

Uruguay will face the winner of the second semi-final match between Paraguay and Venezuela due later tonight.