• Uruguay defeated Canada to claim third place at Copa America 2024
  • Luis Suarez scored the equalizer in the 93rd minute
  • Sergio Rochet came up massive in the penalty shootou

Just when it looked like Canada had the game won, Uruguay came back and defeated Jesse Marsch's side in the Copa America 2024 third place match thanks to some late-game heroics from Luis Suarez.

Uruguay's disappointing semi-finals performance against Colombia shattered their hopes of making their first Copa America final in over a decade. Instead of meeting Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium tomorrow, La Celeste had to settle for a third place match tonight against Canada in front of a sparse crowd at Bank of America Stadium.

How the game unfolded

Although Canada enjoyed a prolonged spell of possession to kick off the match, it was La Celeste that struck first in the eighth minute. Fede Valverde's well placed corner found the head of Sebastian Caceres, who flicked the ball right to the feet of an unmarked Rodrigo Bentancur at the near post for the 1-0 lead.

Jesse Marsch's side stayed in the game, though, finding a few half-chances before scoring an unlikely equalizer in the 22nd minute. Jacob Shaffelburg sent a lofty corner into the box, and despite two Uruguayans on either side of Moise Bombito, the defender got just enough on the header to send the ball to Ismael Kone. The midfielder delivered a perfect overhead finish to beat Sergio Rochet and tie the game at 1-1.

Facundo Pellistri answered with a goal of his own just one minute later, but the winger's effort was whistled offsides. Despite Uruguay's almost immediate answer, Canada dominated the rest of the first half, wasting several goalscoring opportunities that would have given them the lead heading into halftime.

Most of the second half lacked the intensity of the first until the final 15 minutes of the game. Jonathan David put Canada up 2-1 in the 80th minute; Kone forced a save from Rochet that rebounded right to the striker, and the Lille man did not miss. It was none other than Luis Suarez, though, who equalized for Uruguay in the 93th minute off a perfect cross from Jose Gimenez, sending the game to a penalty shootout.

Valverde, Bentancur, and Giorgian De Arrascaeta buried their penalties, while Rochet saved Kone's, putting Uruguay up 2-3 in the shootout. Suarez did not miss from the spot either, ultimately scoring the winner before Alphonso Davies hit the crossbar. Uruguay came out victorious, winning 4-3 on penalties to secure third place at Copa America 2024