The first Copa America 2015 quarterfinal between hosts Chile and defending champions Uruguay had it all – yellow cards, red cards, some outstanding defending, a ecstasy-inducing goal and a brawl in the middle of the pitch.
Chile vs Uruguay was a tempestuous clash, which culminated in a late winner for the hosts and ended with a ridiculous brawl between the two sides, with the referee Sandro Meira Ricci at the centre of it all.
Uruguay had two men sent off in the second half – Edinson Cavani and Jorge Fucile – while the winning goal in the 1-0 win came via Mauricio Isla in the 82nd minute.
Chile were the team always in the ascendancy, with Uruguay showing some serious steel and the kind of determination that won them the Copa America four years ago, but matters turned for the worse for Oscar Tabarez's side when Cavani saw red for a second bookable offence in the 62nd minute.
Having already picked up a yellow card in the first half for a foul on Arturo Vidal, Cavani, already having a miserable week after his father was arrested for a fatal car crash, was given another one for a hand onto the face of Gonzalo Jara, who made more than a meal of it.
If Uruguay felt aggrieved about that decision which sent their main striker into the dressing room for an early shower, things only got worse as Isla score nine minutes from time.
Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera failed to properly bat away a cross and Chile took advantage with Jorge Valdivia finding Isla, who provided a crisp finish.
The Uruguayans had to go all out for an equaliser to stay in Copa America 2015, but that chance was nipped in the bud on 88 minutes as Fucile was shown a red card by referee Ricci. Having already picked up a yellow card earlier as well, Fucile put in a hard tackle on Arsenal superstar Alexis Sanchez, and there was little doubt that this time it was worthy of a booking, even if he might have got the ball.
That did not stop Uruguay from losing their rag, however, as players protested, with coaches and substitutes from both teams running onto the pitch, forcing a stoppage of the match for several minutes.
Once the dust settled, Chile saw off the remaining time left in the match to come away with a 1-0 victory and seal a place in the semifinals of Copa America 2015.
