El último partido masculino del Pan Am Challenge 2011 fue entre Brasil y Uruguay. El juego comenzó como esperaban los equipos, que habían empatado previamente 0- 0 en la primera etapa del torneo—fue una dura batalla por la posesión y las oportunidades de ataque. Cuando ya se había jugado la mitad del primer tiempo Brasil ganó el primer corner corto del partido. Uruguay, por su lado se mantuvo fuerte y evitó que Brasil anotara.

Durante la segunda mitad del primer tiempo Brasil parecía controlar un poco el partido y se mantuvieron jugando en su área de ataque. Uruguay impidió que Brasil desarrollara oportunidades de ataque. En el minuto 26, Uruguay se adueñó de la pelota y se fue rápidamente al contraataque. Sebastián CASTILLO supo aprovechar la oportunidad y marcó el 1-0 a favor de Uruguay.

Por el resto del primer tiempo el juego continuó siendo muy intenso entre los dos equipos. El juego continuó desarrollándose en el área de ataque de Brasil. Uruguay no recibió corners cortos en el primer tiempo. Brasil por su lado no pudo generar demasiadas oportunidades de ataque y un corner corto a los 33 minutos no se pudo concretar. Los equipos se fueron al descanso con el 1-0 a favor de Uruguay.

El segundo tiempo del partido comenzó igual que como había terminado la primera etapa, con Brasil manteniendo la posesión, pero con Uruguay impidiendo que los brasileros anotaran. Brasil también ganó el primer corner corto del segundo tiempo, pero el portero uruguayo Mariano MALLO salvó la valla. Una vez más Uruguay tomó la ventaja de una rara oportunidad de ataque, poniendo a Uruguay al frente por dos tantos sobre Brasil, a través de la jugada de campo de a Ignacio COSTAS en el minuto 47. Enseguida el Brasilero Matheus BORGES FERREIRA marcó de corner corto para poner a su equipo a solo un gol de diferencia.

Con sólo 15 minutos para el final del partido, Uruguay recibió su primer corner corto del partido, pero la defensa de Brasil evitó que tomaran el tiro. Brasil continuó con la mayor posesión, pero Uruguay siguió aprovechando su contraataque. En el minuto 69, el uruguayo Juan Manuel CANESSA puso el marcador 3-1 sobre Brasil con un corner corto. Así selló Uruguay el resultado con el 3-1 sobre Brasil, asegurándose el primer lugar en la tabla del Pan Am Challenge masculino 2011.

MATCH QUOTES

Uruguay’s Coach Marcelo  REINERI

On the match…

It was a really hard match. Brazil worked well behind the ball. It was great game and I thought we played as a team. To prepare, we watched Brazil’s other matches here and lots of videos to look for and find a solution to their play. We were very focused and tried to calm our anxiety and I thought we played a great game because of that. We had patience, were calm, had order, and discipline that was fundamental to the match. We played together as a team and it was a very special match. A classic match. I am very proud of all my players and appreciate very much how much they accept my ideas, especially with such short preparation time.

Uruguay’s Sebastian CASTILLO

On the match…

It was spectacular. We played well throughout the whole match as well as together. I do not think we could have done anything more. We became an increasingly strong team throughout the match.

On his goal [that gave Uruguay the 1-0 lead over Brazil in the first half]…

It was a goal from my soul; like it was for the rest of the team as well.

On his tournament experience…

It has been very special because it has been lots of hard work, especially sacrifice—as I am recently married I have had to sacrifice many things, like my family who could not be here today.

Brazil’s Coach Claudio ROCHA

On the match…

I thought the first half of the first half we were not very focused and then we increased our ball possession. But Uruguay took the 1-0 lead off a mistake of ours. We had lots of possession in the midfield, but had trouble generating attacking opportunities in the first half. In the 2^nd half, I thought we increased our game speed and pressure, but we could not score. Uruguay used their counter attack well. Uruguay had fewer opportunities, but was more efficient. That’s it—sport. I thought we played better than Uruguay, but they scored more to win the match.

On his teams tournament experience…

This was my first competition as the Coach for the Brazilian National Team. For me it was great because in three weeks of lots of practicing here I could see that the team developed a lot—skills and friendship. We progressed throughout the tournament. But I thought this last game we could have played better. However, we played the best we could have given that we were nervous before the match and we have young players who felt the pressure. This is why we need more games, to play more and get more familiar with a high pressure environment. Of course we wanted to win the tournament but we know this is baby steps and in a short period we have developed a lot.

Brazil Captain Luciano CAMINHA JUNIOR

On his tournament experience…

I think we did our best, but we did not achieve our goal to win the tournament, but we are on our way. Looking back this team improved a lot. I am disappointed with the match because I think we could have and really wanted to win the game today, but we didn’t. We are still training and we will improve more.