AmeriCup 2011: Day 19 (Final)

AmeriCup 2011 Final: Uruguay 2-0 Brazil

Uruguay were crowned AmeriCup champions on their home soil as they beat defending champions Brazil 2-0 in Montevideo.

After a goalless first half, Carlos Torres Pizarro thundered in a low shot past keeper Etherson six minutes into the second sending the Centenario into raptures.

And Ezequiel Méndez doubled the hosts' lead with a headed goal two minutes from time.

Brazil made a double substitution late in the game, the full-backs Marchetti and Caca Cucu being replaced by attackers Renatinho and Rogério, for a bizarre ultra-attacking 2-4-4 formation, with wingers Riko and Kerrison virtually wing-backs.

But the gamble failed to pay off and Uruguay held on for the victory.

Goals
Uruguay: C. Torres Pizarro 51', Méndez 88'.
Brazil: none.

Lineups
Uruguay: Castro; Vallez, Viera, Fiasco, Cabano; Righetti (Di Nicolino 75'), Medina (Sivek Ramos 90'+3), Phillips Ruiz, Méndez; C. Torres Pizarro, Cherokoff (Juárez 51').
Brazil: Etherson; Caca Cucu (Renatinho 88'), Hugo, Alexsandro, Marchetti (Rogério 88'), Kerrison, Demitrinho (Goncha 51'), Kikao, Riko; Rodrigo Santos, Neylon.

Yellow Cards
Uruguay: none.
Brazil: Kerrison 54'.

Man of the Match: Ezequiel Méndez, Uruguay.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 18 (Third Place)

AmeriCup 2011 Third Place Match: Paraguay 0-0 USA (AET, 5-4 on pens)

A disappointing third-place match was won by Paraguay on penalties after a goalless encounter with United States.

Mike Rudicka's missed penalty, gave Ricardo Morán the chance to clinch the bronze medal for Paraguay.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 17 (Semi-Finals)

AmeriCup 2011 Semi Final: Uruguay 2-0 Paraguay

Hosts Uruguay easily beat Paraguay 2-0 to book a place in the AmeriCup final.

Towards the end of the first half, Cristián Phillips Ruiz put Uruguay 1-0 up.

For Uruguay's second goal, Marcelo Medina found himself clean through with the keeper Ernesto Cambias, but the Paraguayan shot-stopper fumbled Medina's shot allowing Ezequiel Méndez to tap it in to the open goal.

Goals
Uruguay: Phillips Ruiz 45', Méndez 84'.
Paraguay: none.

Man of the Match: Cristián Phillips Ruiz, Uruguay.

AmeriCup 2011 Semi Final: Brazil 2-0 USA

Brazil eased past the United States with a 2-0 win to set up a final with hosts Uruguay.

Demitrinho and Caca Cucu got the goals.

Goals
Brazil: Demitrinho 9', Caca Cucu 56'.
USA: none.

Man of the Match: Demitrinho, Brazil.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 16

AmeriCup 2011 Quarter Final: USA 1-0 Mexico

A late goal from Ritchie Roland put USA in the semi-finals against Brazil, as the Yanks saw off their rivals Mexico.

Goals
USA: Roland 87'.
Mexico: none.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 15

AmeriCup 2011 Quarter Final: Argentina 1-2 Paraguay

Ricardo Morán's first goal for Paraguay was enough for his nation to secure a shock 2-1 result at the hands of Argentina in the quarter-finals.

Eduardo Millar opened the scoring for Paraguay, before Alberto Núñez equalised.

But only four minutes later after Núñez has netted, central defender Morán had headed a goal past Argentina keeper Fabián Caballero to set up a semi-final with hosts Uruguay.

Goals
Argentina: Núñez 54'.
Paraguay: Millar 19', Morán 58'.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 14

AmeriCup 2011 Quarter Final: Brazil 4-1 Chile

Brazil recovered from an early Chile goal to destroy their opponents in the Centenario.

Pablo Antonio García had given the Chileans a shock lead, only after two minutes.

But 21 minutes later Monsters FC midfielder Riko equalised, and the pendulum had swung Brazil's way.

Young striker Neylon scored a brace, before defender Brunão put the icing on the cake.

Rodrigo Santos won the man of the match, the London United forward playing part in the majority of the Brazilian goals.

Goals
Brazil: Riko 23', Neylon 42', 58', Brunão 76'.
Chile: García 2'.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 13

AmeriCup 2011 Quarter Final: Uruguay 4-0 Peru

Hosts Uruguay absolutely hammered Peru to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Carlos Torres Pizarro was once again the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick while Cristián Phillips Ruiz also got on the scoresheet.

Goals
Uruguay: C. Torres Pizarro 10', 15', 64', Phillips Ruiz 34'.
Peru: none.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 12

USA won Group D after a 2-0 win over Bolivia in the Troccoli stadium.

Brandon Mortz and Brad Schnitzke scored the US goals to take them above Chile, who could only draw with Costa Rica 1-1 at the Centenario. Pablo Antonio García scoring for Chile; Hernán Pastor for Costa Rica.

AmeriCup officials conducted the draw for the next round to begin tomorrow, with Peru handed a potentially lethal tie against Uruguay, Brazil play Chile, and Argentina play Paraguay, but the pick of the bunch has to be USA v Mexico, as the Mexicans are looking for their revenge after losing to the US in the North American Cup final last month.

All quarter-finals - as well as the semi-finals and the final itself - will take place in Montevideo's Centenario Stadium.

Draw for AmeriCup 2011 quarter-finals:
Uruguay v Peru
Brazil v Chile
Argentina v Paraguay
USA v Mexico

AmeriCup 2011: Day 11

Argentina finally put it right and destroyed Venezuela 4-0 with a hat-trick from the sensational Alberto Nunez and a beautiful headed goal from Fernando Balloni.

After two bad performances, they win Group C, with seven points (two wins, one draw) only ahead on goal difference ahead of Mexico, who defeated Jamaica 1-0 with a goal from Javier Estrada.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 10

Brazil hammered Canada six-nil on a cold night in the Centenario.

Goals came from Demitrinho, Neylon, Kerrison, Rodrigo Santos, Hugo and Kikao.

Elsewhere, Peru won 1-0 over Ecuador to secure their place in the quarter-finals; the goalscorer was Manuel Torres.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 9

Paraguay defeated Colombia 1-0 in the winner-take-all match in Montevideo's Parque Central stadium, securing their place with hosts Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

The score stayed 0-0 for about 80 minutes, but despite that, both teams played end-to-end attacking football before a header from Victor Cardozo broke the deadlock and sent Paraguayans into a frenzy.

Across town, Uruguay made it three wins from three in Group A, but only after Honduras conceded a late own goal to the hosts in a dreadful display of football at the Centenario stadium.

Gustavo Righetti's inswinging cross had Honduran defender Bobby Bravo head it into his own net after 85 minutes of appalling football, which saw the two teams play extra defensively, the complete contrast of the entertaining spectacle at the Parque Central.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 8

Chile beat USA 2-0 with goals from Pablo Antonio García and Iván Maldonado in Centenario evening match.

In the afternoon match in Paysandú, Bolivia and Costa Rica playing to a 0-0 draw in a negative display of defensive football.

As the tables stand, it's still all to play for: Chile are in pole position with four points, USA with three, Bolivia two and Costa Rica one. Costa Rica could still finish in the top two if they beat Chile in Montevideo's Centenario stadium, and hope that USA draw with Bolivia across town at the Luis Triccoli stadium.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 7

A depleted Mexico side continue to confound their critics as they held Argentina to a shock nil-nil draw in the evening match at the Estadio Centenario.

Alberto Nunez, always a threat for the Argentines, was kept quiet by a resolute Mexican defense lead by Antonio Vallejos.

Vallejos - who was part of the Mexican defence that let in seven goals against England in the World Cup last year - was arguably the Man of the Match.

The Leones de Monterrey defender was given the task of man-marking playmaker Nunez, and Vallejos stuck to the Barcelona Bullfighters forward like glue and won tackles fairly.

This result leaves both teams with four points, but quarter-finals are still no guarantee.

Because Venezuela beat Jamaica 3-1 earlier, earning three points, after their opening defeat to Mexico, whereas Jamaica, having lost their first game against Argentina, are no longer in contention.

Goals from Hector Montero, Marcos Smith and Johnny Ferrera were sufficient; Tino Henderson scored Jamaica's goal.

Venezuela now must beat Argentina, which has rarely happened; however with Argentina's poor performances over the first two games, one could fancy the Maroons' chances. Mexico, on the other hand, face Jamaica, knowing that a win will see them through to the last eight.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 6

Brazil won 1-0 over Peru at the Centenario, but it took 80 minutes before Demitrinho could strike.

The Peruvian defence defended like dogs until Demitrinho's hopeful strike from long range caught out the keeper.

Brazil now book a place in the knockout stages.

In the day's early game, Ecuador were held 1-1 by Canada.

Marco Giontarella had given the North Americans a shock lead, before Luis Martini equalised fifteen minutes from time.

On Monday, Ecuador, with one point, could qualify for the quarters if they beat Peru in Maldonado, who are currently on three, and Canada are still in the hunt if they complete the unlikely task of beating Brazil at the Centenario, coupled with a draw in the other game in Maldonado. However if Peru beat Ecuador no matter what happens in Montevideo, they will go through with Brazil.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 5

Hosts Uruguay have become the first team to qualify for the quarter-finals, defeating Paraguay 2-0.

Carlos Torres-Pizarro was key for Uruguay, scoring one goal and setting up the second for his brother, Julio Torres-Pizarro.

Honduras were the first team knocked out of the AmeriCup, with a late goal from Fredy Sánchez Arango. Paraguay and Colombia now play each other next Sunday, in a winner-take-all for a place in the last eight; however, Paraguay will go through on goal difference should it end in a draw.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 4

An under-strength United States side still managed to record a 1-0 over a full-strength Costa Rica side in Maldonado.

LA United striker Brandon Mortz, who missed out on the North American Cup winning squad, scored a stunning free-kick which left the Costa Rican keeper hanging.

Disappointing Chile were held 0-0 by dogged Bolivia in the evening kick-off at the Centenario.

Chilean winger Francisco Filippini came close, hitting the bar in the first half.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 3

Argentina put in an unconvincing display but nevertheless they shut-out Jamaica for a 2-0 win at Centenario, Montevideo.

Alberto Nunez scored one and set up another, with a delicate through ball for Carlos Barragán.

In the day's early kick-off, Mexico's fringe team did enough to beat a threatening Venezuela side 1-0 at Gran Parque Central, Montevideo.

José Rafael Mendoza, who was an unused player in the North American Cup squad last month as Mexico lost to USA in the final, scored the goal that separated the two sides.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 2

Brazil trounced Ecuador 5-0, with Rodrigo Santos getting two and headers from Hugo and Alexsandro.

But teenage whiz-kid Neylon scored the goal of the day with a 20-yard curler past Ecuadorian keeper Diego Suarez.

In the day's afternoon match, Peru avoided a potentially embarrassing draw with Canada when Ramón Páez struck in the last minute for a 1-0 victory.

AmeriCup 2011: Day 1

Hosts Uruguay beat Colombia unconvincingly in the opening game of the AmeriCup in Estadio Centenario, Montevideo.

Carlos Torres Pizarro scored the opening goal before Colombia were allowed back into it before half-time, Felipe Mendez Rojas equalising.

But a late free-kick from Marcelo Medina gave the hosts a 2-1 victory.

Later that night in Paysandú, Paraguay hammered Honduras 4-0 with Nicolás García getting a hat-trick.

But the highlight of the night was a solo run from Paraguayan winger Fernando Paez, who ran 50 yards to score the fifth.