Uruguay on Sunday qualified for the 3rd appearance at the U20 world Cup semifinals drubbing the Yankees of USA 2-0 in the last quarterfinal match played in Argentina.
Anderson Duarte who scored the goal that eliminated the Scorpions of Gambia, got an assist from De los Santos at 21st minute to score the curtain raiser before Louisville City FC Central Defender , Joshua Wynder playing at the Defence for USA misdirected the ball into his net at 56th minute for an own goal.
Uruguay was surely the better team as the South Americans who have never won the trophy despite 15 appearances now have a shot at the title if they can subdue debutant and Giant Killers, Israel in the Semifinal on Thursday 8th June at La Plata.
USA drew with Ecuador 1-1 on 20th May; spanked Fiji Island 3-0 and slushed Slovakia 2-0. New Zealand was sent home with a whopping 4-0 defeat from USA in the round of 16.
FIFA U-20 World Cup: Senegal out, Korea Republic through
Uruguay had beaten Iraq 4-0; lost to England 2-3 and piped Tunisia 1-0. Inc6.identally Uruguay that had beaten African representative, Tunisia in the group encounter 1-0 again eliminated another African team, Gambia 1-0 in the round of 16.
The Yankees of America who Nigerians prefer to call Yankees had their biggest loss ever to Mexico at Bayamon in Florida on the 3rd of November 2018 which was a 7-0 drubbing. USA in their 17 appearances at the world cup never even qualified for the grand finale of any tournament. Their best was a 4th placing at Saudi Arabia 89 when Brazil beat the team 2-0 in the Losers’ final and Leonardo scored the second goal of that match that ended 2-1 AET. Nigeria’s Head Master, the chap that is known in global football to score most of his goals with the head, Mutiu Adepoju ‘killed’ USA in the semis with the brace 2-0 scoring 47th and 93rd minutes to relegate USA. USA looks like they are Quarterfinal specialists losing at that stage five times at Australia 1993; UAE 2003; Canada 2007; South Korea 2017 and Poland 2019.
Uruguay appeared at the world cup 15 times. Uruguay won Silver twice in 1997 at Malaysia when she lost to Argentina in the final on 5th July as she had beaten Ghana 3-2 AET in the semifinal. In 2013 at Turkey where Paul Pogba of France was Best Player of the tournament, France won 4-2 on penalties after a goalless full time; Uruguay had beaten Iraq 7-6 on penalties after 1-1 at Full time. She won the Bronze at Japan 1979 when Diego Maradona scored winning goal number 2 at 74th minute in the semifinal and went to beat Poland in the Losers’ Final 5-3 on penalties after 1-1 at Full time.
Incidentally Uruguay first 4th place among three times as 4th placed was at Tunisia in 1977; Nigeria 1999 and she lost to Italy 4-1 on penalties at South Korea 2017 in the year England and Venezuela were qualifying for their first final which England won 1-0. Uruguay appeared in the quarterfinals three times in 1981, 1983 and 1993.
On Thursday, 8th June 2023 Israel that sent out five times Champions, Brazil will meet Uruguay at La Plata at 1830 in the first Semifinal. South Korea will play against Italy in the second semifinal also at La Plata at 2200 hours.
Semifinal Pairings:
1. Israel vs Uruguay @ 1830 hrs on Thurs.
2. Italy vs South Korea @ 2200 hrs on Thurs
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
The Author, Eniola Olatunji (Formerly Yomi Kassim) has been in the media for some 46 years with vast experience in Radio Sports Commentaries and Newspaper reporting. He worked as Presenter/Producer on many radio stations and Reporter/Editor in some Newspapers,
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