• Copa America

Suarez double seals Uruguay's final spot

ESPNsoccernet staff
July 20, 2011
Luis Suarez netted a brace in Uruguay's semi-final win © Getty Images
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Uruguay are the first team through to the Copa America final after they recorded a convincing 2-0 victory over Peru in La Plata, Argentina.

A second-half brace from Luis Suarez was enough to see La Celeste to qualify for Sunday's decider in Buenos Aires, where they will take on either Paraguay or Venezuela.

Uruguay started the semi-final in typically aggressive fashion, dominating the tempo of the match and forcing Peru onto the back foot for much of the opening stanza.

Strike duo Diego Forlan and Suarez heaped pressure on the Peruvian goal, and Alvaro Pereira had a goal ruled out for offside, but goalkeeper Raul Fernandez stood tall to make a number of crucial saves as both sides went into the half-time break scoreless.

Last year's World Cup semi-finalists would not have to wait long after the interval to make the breakthrough, though, as Suarez reacted fastest to Fernandez's fumble from a long-distance strike on 52 minutes. Five minutes later and the Liverpool striker added a second as he rounded Fernandez to give Uruguay a comfortable advantage.

Any chance of a Peru comeback then took a heavy blow in the 68th-minute when midfielder Juan Vargas was shown a straight red card for deliberately raising an elbow, reducing La Rojiblanca to 10-men.

Uruguay last lifted the continental trophy in 1995 when they beat Brazil on penalties in the final.

Paraguay will take on Venezuela for the right to play Uruguay in the decider in the other semi-final to be played in Mendoza on Wednesday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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