The local Uruguayan national team tied 1-1 with the Guatemalan national team at the Inter Miami stadium in Fort Lauderdale. The goal for Diego “Ruso” Pérez’s team was scored by Lucas Pino, a Torque player who is also part of Fabián Coito’s under-20 team.
The match was the second of this new team created by the AUF so that the footballers who play for Uruguayan clubs have a showcase to show off their skills wearing the light blue shirt.
Before the match, there was a minute of silence in tribute to Juan Izquierdo, who died last Tuesday in Sao Paulo. The face of the Nacional footballer appeared on a banner (held by the players of both teams) that read “Juan Izquierdo forever in our hearts. 1997-2024.”
Uruguay took a 1-0 lead with a goal from Lucas Pino after a very good offensive combination from the sky blues.
Guatemala, led by Mexican Luis Fernando Tena (who was the champion of the 2011 Pan American Games and the 2012 London Olympics) took this match as a preparation for the next round of the Concacaf Nations League, where they will face Costa Rica and Martinique.
The starting line-up was made up of Guillermo De Amores (Peñarol), Franco Pizzichillo (Torque), Hugo Magallanes (Racing), Lucas Monzon (Racing), Diego Romero (Deportivo Maldonado), Franco Catarozzi (Torque), Santiago Cartagena (Deportivo Maldonado), Gonzalo Larrazabal (Deportivo Maldonado), Lucas Pino (Torque), Luciano Cosentino (Cerro Largo) and Matias Fonseca (Wanderers).
During the second half, Alexander Machado (Miramar), Nicolás Schiappacasse (Miramar Misiones), Wiston Fernández (Fénix) and Nicolás Fernández (Progreso) came on.
Uruguay was superior in the first half and deservedly went into the break with a 1-0 lead, but in the second half the sky-blues felt the physical wear and tear caused by the high temperature and humidity in Miami, making the game even. The changes also took away the team’s fluidity in the middle of the field and the Guatemalans managed to equalize the actions with a goal in the 66th minute.
This was the second friendly match for the local team, which had played on May 31 in San José, Costa Rica, tying 0-0 against the Ticos.
