Luis Suárez equalized two minutes into second-half stoppage time, leading Uruguay to a 4-3 victory over Canada in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw on Saturday night, securing third place in the Copa América.
Uruguay’s goalkeeper, Sergio Rochet, saved Ismaël Koné’s weak penalty kick after a stutter step on Canada’s third attempt. Alphonso Davies missed Canada’s final kick, hitting the crossbar.
Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Suárez scored for Uruguay in the shootout against Canada’s goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair. Jonathan David, Moïse Bombito, and Mathieu Choinière made their penalty kicks for Canada, which kicked first in the shootout.
Bentancur scored early for Uruguay in the eighth minute, but Canada took a 2-1 lead with goals by Koné in the 22nd minute and David in the 80th minute.
The 37-year-old Suárez, Uruguay’s all-time top scorer, netted his 69th international goal from a quick attack, assisted by José Giménez.
St. Clair received a yellow card as Rochet was preparing for Bombito’s penalty kick, likely for attempting to distract the goalkeeper.
The match took place on the same field where Uruguay players had clashed with Colombian fans after a 1-0 semifinal loss on Wednesday. This game was calmer, with 24,386 attendees compared to over 70,000 mostly Colombian fans at the semifinal.
Defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi will face Colombia for the title on Sunday night in Miami Gardens, Florida. Argentina and Uruguay are tied with 15 Copa titles each.
Canada, with new coach Jesse Marsch since May, will see this tournament as one of their best since winning the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada reached the World Cup for the second time in 2022, their first appearance since 1986.
In the semifinal, Canada made six lineup changes and Uruguay made two. Davies, Canada’s star player, came on in the 62nd minute after leaving the semifinal with a leg injury.
Uruguay took an early lead when Sebastián Cáceres headed a corner to Bentancur, who controlled and spun to score over St. Clair for his third international goal and second of the tournament.
Canada equalized in the 14th minute when Bombito won a header, and Koné’s bicycle kick beat Rochet for his third international goal.
Facundo Pellistri had a goal disallowed for offside in the 23rd minute.
Canada took the lead when Rochet saved Koné’s initial shot, but David scored on the rebound, netting his 28th international goal.