Uruguay 1-0 Jamaica: Cristian Rodriguez’s second-half goal gives defending Copa America champions opening group win

Cristian Rodriguez opened the scoring from close range on 52 minutes
Uruguay are looking to defend the title they won four years ago
Uruguay are bidding for their 16th Copa America title

Published:
20:52 GMT, 13 June 2015

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Updated:
05:53 GMT, 14 June 2015

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Defending champions Uruguay made a winning start to their Copa America campaign as they laboured to a 1-0 win over Jamaica in Antofagasta on Saturday.

Cristian Rodriguez’s close-range finish early in the second half proved to be the only goal of the game as La Celeste stuttered their way to victory.

Uruguay, the most successful nation in the competition’s history, are bidding for their 16th Copa America title having beaten Paraguay to the crown in Argentina four years ago.

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Cristian Rodriguez (right) celebrates after scoring the only goal as Uruguay beat Jamaica 1-0 on Saturday

Rodriguez (left) opened the scoring with a left-footed strike inside the Jamaica penalty area

Rodriguez (second right) wheels away in jubilation following his close range strike on 52 minutes

The 29-year-old was mobbed by team-mates after scoring the only goal in their opening Copa America game

MATCH FACTS

Uruguay: Muslera, Maxi Pereira, Gimenez, Godin, Alvaro Pereira, Sanchez (Stuani 73), Arevalo Rios, Lodeiro (Gonzalez 86), Cristian Rodriguez (De Arrascaeta 64), Rolan, Cavani.

Subs not used: Munoz, Fucile, Hernandez, Stuani, Gaston Silva, Ricardo Pereira, Corujo, Coates, Jonathan Rodriguez, Martin Silva.

Booked: Alvaro Pereira, Godin

Goal: Rodriguez 52

Jamaica: Kerr, Lawrence, Morgan, Mariappa, Hector, McCleary, McAnuff, Austin, Barnes, Dawkins (Laing 54), Mattocks (Brown 75).

Subs not used: Miller, Gordon, Parkes, Gray, Williams, Ottey, Watson, Grant, Taylor, Thompson.

Booked: McAnuff

With Luis Suarez still serving an international ban after biting Giorgio Chiellini in last year’s World Cup, Edinson Cavani is likely to provide Uruguay’s main goal threat during the tournament but he struggled to create any clear-cut chances in a first half short on quality.

The Paris Saint-Germain striker thought he had won his side a penalty midway through the first half when he appeared to be pulled back by Jamaica centre-back Michael Hector, but he was left incensed when Venezuelan referee Jose Argote waved play-on.

It took 37 minutes for Uruguay to register a shot on target and, even though Rodriguez did well to spin and get his effort away on the edge of the area, Jamaica goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr saved comfortably.

Jamaica striker Darren Mattocks had an even better chance to open the scoring barely two minutes later as he found himself through on goal but, having been forced wide by Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera, he could only hack his shot wide of the target as half-time loomed large.

While Uruguay found chances hard to come by in the first half they could have not asked for a better start to the second when Rodriguez put them in front just seven minutes after the restart.

The Atletico Madrid winger notched his first international goal for 19 months when he poked home after Jose Maria Gimenez had headed Nicolas Lodeiro’s free-kick back across goal.

Giles Barnes wasted a great opportunity to level moments later when the Uruguay defence failed to clear a lofted long-ball from their penalty area.

Uruguay fans show their support for defending champions ahead of kick-off against Jamaica

Uruguay centre back Diego Godin (left) grapples with Darren Mattocks during the opening stages

Jamaica captain Rudolph Austin clears the danger as the Caribbean island look to start a counter-attack

Jamaica winger Garath McCleary (left) skips past the sliding challenge of the Uruguay’s Nicolas Lodeiro

Mattocks (left) tries his luck from range as Jamaica go in search for an opening goal vs Uruguay

The former Derby midfielder found himself in acres of space and in possession on the edge of the area but he snatched at his shot and, with the goal at his mercy as Muslera was out of position, the ball sailed harmlessly wide.

Barnes did somewhat better in the 75th minute when he rose highest on the edge of the penalty area to meet Lance Laing’s cross but his header was never going to trouble Muslera and he was able to shepherd the ball out of play for a goal kick.

Laing was the provider once again in the 80th minute and his delightful left-wing cross fell on to the head of substitute Deshorn Brown but his far-post effort trickled wide of the target.

Muslera then had to be alert to tip Kemar Lawrence’s handy free-kick over his crossbar before Laing fired his volley from the subsequent corner high and wide.

Christian Stuani missed a gilt-edged chance to make the game safe for Uruguay in the closing stages when he fired over the bar with the goal at his mercy, but it did not matter as Rodriguez’s goal earlier in the half ensured Oscar Tabarez’s side made a winning start to their title defence.