Leave it to Mexico and Uruguay to make me care about the tournament again
The Copa America Centenario has not been good. At least not in “a chance to watch good football” sort of way. There were three games on Saturday, including a game against CONCACAF minnow Haiti and the nightcap featuring Brazil. One goal. One single, solitary goal the entire day. It didn’t get any better with the first game today. At least it was a bit of an upset with Venezuela beating Jamaica 1-0.
#CA2016 goals after 5 games in perspective: 4⃣ behind 2015 Copa América, 1⃣5⃣ behind 2011 Gold Cup pic.twitter.com/UKUlEX0SoK
— Sportify (@sportifyio) June 6, 2016
Perhaps Jamaica could have used the skills of Minnesota United winger Lance Laing? I suspect Carl Craig would be happy to give him up for the duration of the tournament.
But all would be forgiven once Mexico faced off against Uruguay it what would be the greatest game of the tournament. We’ll get to that. First, the Venezuela – Jamaica game.
Venezuela 1 – Jamaica 0
Not much happened in this game, truthfully.
A cameraman was hit with a ball. He was ok after a bit.
Then Venezuela scored their goal. Martinez put his team up 1-0 on this goal.
https://streamable.com/2fcy
And then a questionable red card was given to Jamaica.
https://streamable.com/av2l
Honestly, that was about it. Let’s get to one of the greatest matches in CONCACAF history, Mexico – Uruguay.
Mexico 3 – Uruguay 1
This match was so amazing, so CONCACAF, that it started before the match even began when they played the wrong anthem for Uruguay. They played Chile’s anthem by accident. Let me repeat that. At a major tournament. In 2016. They played the wrong anthem.
That mistake got the match off to a great start. Particularly in the stands where Uruguay fans fought with Mexican fans over a tifo the Mexican fans were trying to raise.
URU fans upset at wrong anthem tried to tear tifo. We tried to bring it down and they continued to fight. Cont. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/emEeHR3fc7
— Pancho Villa's Army™️ (@VillasArmy) June 6, 2016
It didn’t take long for Uruguay to get on the score sheet. Unfortunately, it was for the wrong team. At this point, CONCACAF teams hadn’t scored a goal in the entire tournament.
Own Goal storms in to the #CopaAmerica scoring charts. #MEXvURU #ElTri (via @FOXSoccer ) https://t.co/n8WPvO8v26
— COPA90 US (@Copa90US) June 6, 2016
In the stands, fans were all cheering appropriately and without any coordinated chants with offensive language. Just kidding, fans were screaming “puto” after just about every time the Uruguayans had the ball after a stoppage.
Mexican fans still using the homophobic goal-kick chant.
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) June 6, 2016
There were a lot of yellow cards. The Uruguayans were a bit unhappy about the number assessed on them in fact. Probably because they had to play with ten men the entire second half after Vecino picked up his second yellow at the end of the first half.
https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/739621557773979648
Mexican fans were understandably happy after a first half in which they went up a goal and their opponents had gone down a man. So happy one joyous fan forgot how to chew gum.
https://twitter.com/TotalMLS/status/739624833785430017
The second half saw Uruguay claw their way back into the game. Shortly after Guardado was sent off for Mexico, Diego Godin tied it up for Uruguay.
What a turnaround! Moments after Guardado's sending-off, Diego Godin ties it up for Uruguay. #MEXvURU #MyCopaColors https://t.co/czFtzsklQ2
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 6, 2016
Uruguay’s coach Óscar Tabárez was excited.
— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 6, 2016
The Mexican fans were not.
Mexico fans throwing things at the players again. #CopaAmerica pic.twitter.com/WAtXts0MQq
— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 6, 2016
With that one kick, Mexico realized they couldn’t coast to a victory. So they called on the oldest man on the pitch and worst designated player in MLS history, Rafa Marquez. And he delivered.
https://streamable.com/kg9u
A late insurance goal when Uruguay was seeking an equalizer put the scoreline at 3-1 and out of reach for Uruguay.
https://streamable.com/51vy
That’s the way things would end, but Uruguay wouldn’t let it go, surrounding the ref after the final whistle and trying to get him to rewind time and let them go back to when they were tied 1-1. Or something.
Matchday 4: Group D
Read the rest of our reporting from Copa America Centenario.
Monday, June 6th, 6:00 PM
Panama
Bolivia
Monday, June 6th, 9:00 PM
Argentina
Chile
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