Copa America: Luis Suarez scores penalty as Uruguay twice come from behind in Japan draw

Luis Suarez scored a penalty as Uruguay twice came from behind to salvage a draw with Japan in the Copa America.

Koji Miyoshi opened the scoring for Japan but Barcelona forward Suarez levelled from the spot seven minutes later after a controversial decision by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Japan defender Naomichi Ueda appeared to be kicked by Uruguay's Edinson Cavani but was himself penalised.

Miyoshi gave Japan the lead again after the break but Jose Gimenez equalised.

Tournament guests Japan were denied a penalty in Porto Alegre before Miyoshi's second goal after defender Gimenez appeared to foul Shoya Nakajima in the box.

Miyoshi soon restored their lead, pouncing on a ball palmed into his path by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to score into an open net.

But 15-time Copa America champions Uruguay earned a point through Gimenez, again after just seven minutes, who headed in after dropping his marker.

"[Japan] are young and fast but we know they have a lot of quality. They pressed us well and they didn't let us play the way we wanted," said Suarez, who went close to a late winner but was denied by the crossbar.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said: "This draw will help us grow because Uruguay is one of the top teams in international football.

"This point will help us develop and boost our confidence."

Uruguay are top of Group C with four points but second-placed Chile can overtake them with victory against Ecuador at 00:00 BST on Saturday.

Uruguay have their final group-stage game against Chile on Monday, while Japan face Ecuador on Tuesday.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Uruguay

• 1Muslera
• 22Cáceres
• 2Giménez
• 3Godín
• 17LaxaltSubstituted forGonzálezat 28'minutes
• 8NándezSubstituted forde Arrascaetaat 60'minutes
• 14Torreira
• 6Bentancur
• 7LodeiroSubstituted forValverdeat 73'minutes
• 9Suárez
• 21Cavani

Substitutes

• 4González
• 5Vecino
• 10de Arrascaeta
• 11Stuani
• 12Campaña
• 13Saracchi
• 15Valverde
• 16Pereiro
• 18Gómez
• 19Coates
• 20Rodríguez
• 23M Silva

Japan

• 1Kawashima
• 19IwataSubstituted forTatsutaat 87'minutes
• 5UedaBooked at 31mins
• 16Tomiyasu
• 2Sugioka
• 11MiyoshiSubstituted forKuboat 83'minutes
• 7Shibasaki
• 4Itakura
• 10NakajimaBooked at 78mins
• 18Okazaki
• 20AbeSubstituted forUedaat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Nakayama
• 6Watanabe
• 8Ito
• 9Maeda
• 12Kojima
• 13Ueda
• 14Hara
• 15Suga
• 17Matsumoto
• 21Kubo
• 22Tatsuta
• 23Osako

Referee:

Andrés José Rojas Noguera

Match Stats

Home TeamUruguayAway TeamJapan

Possession

Home58%

Away42%

Shots

Home29

Away12

Shots on Target

Home10

Away3

Corners

Home7

Away3

Fouls

Home14

Away20

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Uruguay 2, Japan 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Uruguay 2, Japan 2.

Posted at 90'+6'

Attempt saved. José Giménez (Uruguay) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Giorgian de Arrascaeta with a cross.

Posted at 90'+6'

Giovanni González (Uruguay) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Shoya Nakajima (Japan).

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Uruguay) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Diego Godín with a headed pass.

Posted at 90'+4'

Offside, Japan. Takehiro Tomiyasu tries a through ball, but Ayase Ueda is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+3'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 90'+2'

Delay in match because of an injury Ko Itakura (Japan).

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Uruguay).

Posted at 90'+2'

Ko Itakura (Japan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Uruguay) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Giovanni González with a cross.

Posted at 88'

Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Shinji Okazaki (Japan).

Substitution

Posted at 87'

Substitution, Japan. Yugo Tatsuta replaces Tomoki Iwata.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Rodrigo BenRead More – Source

Luis Suarez scored a penalty as Uruguay twice came from behind to salvage a draw with Japan in the Copa America.

Koji Miyoshi opened the scoring for Japan but Barcelona forward Suarez levelled from the spot seven minutes later after a controversial decision by the video assistant referee (VAR).

Japan defender Naomichi Ueda appeared to be kicked by Uruguay's Edinson Cavani but was himself penalised.

Miyoshi gave Japan the lead again after the break but Jose Gimenez equalised.

Tournament guests Japan were denied a penalty in Porto Alegre before Miyoshi's second goal after defender Gimenez appeared to foul Shoya Nakajima in the box.

Miyoshi soon restored their lead, pouncing on a ball palmed into his path by Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to score into an open net.

But 15-time Copa America champions Uruguay earned a point through Gimenez, again after just seven minutes, who headed in after dropping his marker.

"[Japan] are young and fast but we know they have a lot of quality. They pressed us well and they didn't let us play the way we wanted," said Suarez, who went close to a late winner but was denied by the crossbar.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said: "This draw will help us grow because Uruguay is one of the top teams in international football.

"This point will help us develop and boost our confidence."

Uruguay are top of Group C with four points but second-placed Chile can overtake them with victory against Ecuador at 00:00 BST on Saturday.

Uruguay have their final group-stage game against Chile on Monday, while Japan face Ecuador on Tuesday.

• Line-ups
• Match Stats
• Live Text

Line-ups

Uruguay

• 1Muslera
• 22Cáceres
• 2Giménez
• 3Godín
• 17LaxaltSubstituted forGonzálezat 28'minutes
• 8NándezSubstituted forde Arrascaetaat 60'minutes
• 14Torreira
• 6Bentancur
• 7LodeiroSubstituted forValverdeat 73'minutes
• 9Suárez
• 21Cavani

Substitutes

• 4González
• 5Vecino
• 10de Arrascaeta
• 11Stuani
• 12Campaña
• 13Saracchi
• 15Valverde
• 16Pereiro
• 18Gómez
• 19Coates
• 20Rodríguez
• 23M Silva

Japan

• 1Kawashima
• 19IwataSubstituted forTatsutaat 87'minutes
• 5UedaBooked at 31mins
• 16Tomiyasu
• 2Sugioka
• 11MiyoshiSubstituted forKuboat 83'minutes
• 7Shibasaki
• 4Itakura
• 10NakajimaBooked at 78mins
• 18Okazaki
• 20AbeSubstituted forUedaat 67'minutes

Substitutes

• 3Nakayama
• 6Watanabe
• 8Ito
• 9Maeda
• 12Kojima
• 13Ueda
• 14Hara
• 15Suga
• 17Matsumoto
• 21Kubo
• 22Tatsuta
• 23Osako

Referee:

Andrés José Rojas Noguera

Match Stats

Home TeamUruguayAway TeamJapan

Possession

Home58%

Away42%

Shots

Home29

Away12

Shots on Target

Home10

Away3

Corners

Home7

Away3

Fouls

Home14

Away20

Live Text

Posted at

Match ends, Uruguay 2, Japan 2.

Full Time

Posted at 90'+7'

Second Half ends, Uruguay 2, Japan 2.

Posted at 90'+6'

Attempt saved. José Giménez (Uruguay) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Giorgian de Arrascaeta with a cross.

Posted at 90'+6'

Giovanni González (Uruguay) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Posted at 90'+6'

Foul by Shoya Nakajima (Japan).

Posted at 90'+4'

Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Uruguay) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Diego Godín with a headed pass.

Posted at 90'+4'

Offside, Japan. Takehiro Tomiyasu tries a through ball, but Ayase Ueda is caught offside.

Posted at 90'+3'

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Posted at 90'+2'

Delay in match because of an injury Ko Itakura (Japan).

Posted at 90'+2'

Foul by Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Uruguay).

Posted at 90'+2'

Ko Itakura (Japan) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Posted at 89'

Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Uruguay) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Giovanni González with a cross.

Posted at 88'

Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Posted at 88'

Foul by Shinji Okazaki (Japan).

Substitution

Posted at 87'

Substitution, Japan. Yugo Tatsuta replaces Tomoki Iwata.

Posted at 87'

Foul by Rodrigo BenRead More – Source