Uruguay beat Brazil 4-2 on penalties after 0-0 draw, advance to Copa America semi-finals

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Marcelo Bielsa knew how the world would react after Uruguay and Brazil struggled, fought and pushed through the Copa America quarterfinals with 41 fouls, four shots on target and no goals in open play.

Bielsa knows the beautiful game on Saturday night was not all that attractive, but the famously inventive coach who now runs Uruguay’s bench was only interested in the celebrations at home and in the stands in Vegas as La Celeste secured a historic victory.

Manuel Ugarte scored the decisive goal in the fifth round of the penalty shootout and Uruguay advanced to the semi-finals of the Copa America thanks to a 4-2 victory on penalties after the teams had drawn.

Uruguay and Brazil played a hard-hitting, choppy match that featured plenty of rough play but little of the impressive football for which both South American powers are known. Uruguay’s Nahitan Nández was sent off in the 74th minute after a red card for a dangerous tackle on Rodrygo, but Brazil were still unable to break through against their 10-man opponents over the next 21 minutes.

“I (prefer) attacking football, but in this game we created more chances and defended well,” Bielsa said through an interpreter. “We did the things we needed to do to succeed at this level.”

Uruguay led 3-1 after three rounds of the shootout when goalkeeper Sergio Rochet stopped Éder Militão and Douglas Luiz hit the post. Alisson Becker saved José María Giménez’s shot in the fourth round to keep Brazil alive, but Ugarte fired home the decisive goal.

“If you ask me if I’m happy that we only created three chances, I’m not,” Bielsa said. “But our opponent only had two chances. We had to work hard to create our chances… but that was satisfying for us.”

After the third penalty shootout in four Copa America quarterfinals, Uruguay advanced to face Colombia in the semifinals on Wednesday night in Charlotte, North Carolina. Colombia defeated Panama 5-0 earlier on Saturday to extend its unbeaten run to 27 straight games.

“We believe we are in good condition to play against any opponent,” Bielsa said.

Defending champion Argentina will face Canada in the other semifinal in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The final is on July 14 in Miami Gardens.

Brazil played without Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, who watched from the stands while suspended after two yellow cards. The Seleção are already without Neymar, who has not played since tearing a knee ligament in Brazil’s loss to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier last fall.

It was Uruguay’s first win over Brazil in 13 meetings since 2001, but Bielsa’s group have now beaten Brazil twice in succession for the first time since 1992.

Endrick made his first career start as a replacement for Vinicius Junior, but the 17-year-old phenom who joined Real Madrid later this month could not lift Brazil from their offensive malaise. Apart from a 4-1 win over an overmatched Paraguay, Brazil have scored one combined goal and claimed just one win in their other three Copa America matches — and the Selecao will head home despite never trailing in the tournament.

“There were positives in every game,” coach Dorival Júnior said through an interpreter. “It is logical that after a game like this, something that we consider positive is excluded. I know that. We did not perform at a high technical level, but I do not throw away any game. There was dedication, fighting spirit. It was always a courageous team. I believe we had more positives than negatives. The fact that we did not seize (the opportunity), despite being in the majority (Uruguay), will be analyzed.”

Uruguay reached the semi-finals of the Copa America for the first time since winning in 2011 and eliminated Brazil for the first time in four games since 1995.

Both teams played cautiously and aggressively from the start. During a stoppage in the 17th minute, Ronald Araújo shoulder-checked Endrick from behind to the ground as the teenager complained about an earlier non-call. Raphinha responded by taking down Araújo, but order was restored.

Araújo, the oft-injured Barcelona defender, left the match in the 31st minute with an apparent injury to his right leg, which Bielsa later called a muscle injury.

After 35 minutes of few scoring chances, the teams traded their best chances with 35 seconds between them. Immediately after Darwin Núñez messed up an unobstructed header deep in the Brazil penalty area, Raphinha was stopped from close range by Rochet.

Nández, a 28-year-old veteran who recently joined the Saudi Pro League from Cagliari, was sent off after video captured him tackling Rodrygo with his legs outstretched, causing his right ankle to buckle.

Bielsa later removed Liverpool star Núñez and retreated into a defensive position that earned Uruguay penalties. Endrick created perhaps Brazil’s strongest chance in the 84th minute, but his shot was smothered by Rochet.

The teams played in the air-conditioned comfort of the Las Vegas Raiders’ home stadium, with the outside temperature at 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius). The crowd included NBA stars Joel Embiid and Devin Booker, who sat in Vinicius Jr.’s box.