Starting Lineups
First Half: Colombia Strikes First
The match began with Colombia demonstrating their intent by dominating possession. In the 31st minute, Juan Fernando Quintero opened the scoring for Colombia with a calm and composed finish. Despite conceding early, Uruguay remained in the game, battling hard but failing to find an equalizer before halftime.
Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur and Colombia’s Quintero both saw yellow cards in a feisty first half, as both teams competed aggressively in midfield.
Score at HT: Uruguay 0 - 1 Colombia
Second Half: A Game of Momentum Shifts
Uruguay came out of the blocks in the second half with renewed vigor. They capitalized on an error from Davinson Sánchez, whose own goal in the 57th minute leveled the score at 1-1. Just three minutes later, Rodrigo Aguirre put Uruguay ahead, slotting home after a well-crafted assist by Mathías Olivera.
Colombia refused to back down. Substitute Andrés Gómez made an immediate impact, equalizing in the 90+6 minute with a close-range finish after an excellent cross from Johan Mojica.
However, the drama wasn’t over. Deep into added time (90+11), Manuel Ugarte scored the winner for Uruguay with a composed strike following a pinpoint assist by Facundo Pellistri, sending the home fans into raptures.
Key Players and Statistics
Facundo Pellistri (Uruguay): Assisted the winning goal and showcased great work ethic, completing 78% of his passes and winning 9 duels.
Rodrigo Aguirre (Uruguay): Scored Uruguay’s second goal, playing a vital role before being substituted in the 68th minute.
Juan Fernando Quintero (Colombia): Opened the scoring with a clinical finish and delivered an impressive 98% passing accuracy.
Andrés Gómez (Colombia): Scored Colombia’s late equalizer, injecting energy into the team in just 8 minutes of play.
Mathías Olivera (Uruguay): Assisted Aguirre’s goal and was defensively solid, with a 90% passing accuracy.
Tactical Overview and Team Performance
Uruguay’s 4-3-1-2 formation allowed them to exploit Colombia’s high defensive line, with Aguirre and Núñez constantly pressing for mistakes. The midfield duo of Valverde and Bentancur provided a solid foundation, despite Bentancur’s early yellow card.
Colombia’s 4-3-3 system gave them a slight edge in possession (55%), but their inability to capitalize on their big chances proved costly. Johan Mojica and Juan Fernando Quintero were standout performers for Colombia, but defensive lapses undid their efforts.
Match Statistics
Ball Possession: Uruguay 45% - Colombia 55%
Total Shots: Uruguay 10 - Colombia 10
Shots on Target: Uruguay 5 - Colombia 4
Passes: Uruguay 360 - Colombia 466
Fouls: Uruguay 18 - Colombia 14
Corners: Uruguay 6 - Colombia 1
Yellow Cards: Uruguay 4 - Colombia 2
Standings Impact
Uruguay’s victory sees them climb to second place with 19 points, level with Colombia but ahead on goal difference. Argentina remains top, while Brazil lags behind after their recent defeat. This result puts Uruguay in a strong position to secure qualification, while Colombia will need to regroup and push harder in their next fixtures.
Featured photo: Leonardo Carreno