June 19, (THEWILL)-Â After a series of draws, which only helped to keep their unbeaten run going, Argentina finally found the extra determined defense they needed in the early hours of Saturday (local time) to take a slim victory over the Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez-led Uruguay attack in the ongoing Copa America.
The meeting of these two old South American rivals did not go according to plan for Uruguay as they were beaten 1-0 by Lionel Messi and co in their competition opener, in a game that bookers thought was going to go the way of La Celeste due to the inability of Argentina to keep a lead for 90 minutes.
However, it was another match and another blank for Uruguay. The sterling form in front of goal that the duo of Suarez and Cavani have had during the just concluded season for their clubs, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United, respectively, has not translated to La Celeste as the national team has not scored this calendar year, a four-game streak.
Yet, it was thought that this time, with the firepower of that frontline, Uruguay will break the jinx that has seen them unable to beat Argentina since 2013, while La Albiceleste are undefeated in five games against Uruguay at the Copa America competition.
It turned out to be another game of the same for Uruguay, who will have so much work to do to tackle their attacking woes, even with Suarez and Cavani in the line-up.
Messi was at his typical best, pulling the strings for 14-time Copa runners-up. He began brightly by stinging the palms of Uruguay keeper Fernando Muslera with a curling seventh-minute effort to signal their mission in the game and Nicolas Otamendi had a header saved as Argentina piled on the pressure.
It was Messi’s cross from the left flank that gave Real Betis midfielder Rodriguez the opportunity to net his winner, and snap Argentina’s run of three consecutive draws with a win that extended to 15 matches their unbeaten run and gave Uruguay more to worry about.
Although La Celeste have their work cut out this year coach Oscar Tabarez has built a team that can never be underestimated even as he battles Guillain-Barre syndrome – a rapid-onset muscle weakness caused by the immune system damaging the peripheral nervous system, which he has managed since 2006.
Since that time, the man credited with resurrecting Uruguay, has become an example of human endeavour and a hero with an unwavering belief and resilience against all odds. This is his seventh Copa America campaign and he guided Uruguay to their 15th CONMEBOL crown in 2011 and first since 1995.
In the football nation’s history only three other coaches have managed more Copa America matches than Tabarez –a primary school teacher before embarking on a coaching career that has taken him to the likes of Boca Juniors and Milan in a glorious span.
Even in his condition, he has taken the team to historic heights, reaching the quarter-finals on three occasions, finishing fourth in 2007. They took the stride to semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, the last-16 round of the 2014 edition and the quarter-final of the 2018 Mondial.
That is the form they will need to return to and Tabarez has shown that he can deliver on that promise time and again. It will be up to the front action figures of Suarez and Cavani to bring it to pass.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
