Uruguay be crowned South American champions for a record 15th time
BUENOS AIRES, (Reuters) – Diego Forlan scored twice after Luis Suarez’s opening goal as Uruguay beat Paraguay 3-0 to win the Copa America on Sunday and be crowned South American champions for a record 15th time.
Suarez, voted player of the tournament, put Uruguay ahead in the 12th minute of the final at the Monumental when his low, left-footed shot from the right beat the diving Justo Villar andwent in off the far post.
Forlan, the 2010 World Cup’s best player, made it 2-0 three minutes before halftime when he ran onto a ball from midfielder Egidio Arevalo Rios and blasted left-footed past Villar from just inside the box penalty box.
In the last minute, Forlan made sure of the title with his second goal at the end of a fine counter-attacking move,
steering the ball past Villar and in off the post.
“This squad were very united, they showed that what they did at the World Cup was no fluke and we showed we’re the best in (the) Americas,” Suarez told reporters.
“I think Uruguay have achieved many things and needed not to forget how to win titles.”
Uruguay now have one more title than hosts Argentina, whom they upset on penalties in the quarter-finals, to crown a fine 12 months after their fourth place at the World Cup.
Twice champions Paraguay finished the tournament without a victory having reached the final with five draws and two penalty shootout wins.
Suarez scored four goals in the tournament, one less than top scorer Paolo Guerrero whose hat-trick helped Peru beat
Venezuela 4-1 for third place in La Plata on Saturday.
Forlan, who won a Uruguayan record 82nd cap, ended a year without scoring for his country with his two goals and equalled the national record of 31 held by Hector Scarone.
