Paraguay reached the final without winning a single match in normal time but its fortune ran out against a Uruguay side which was vastly superior.
Luis Suarez put la celeste ahead after 12 minutes and Forlan doubled the lead 30 minutes later. Atletico Madrid striker Forlan then added a late third to tie Hector Scarone as Uruguay's leading goalscorer with 31.
Uruguay bossed the first half with the pace and movement of Forlan and Suarez proving particularly troublesome for Paraguay's overworked defence.
Oscar Tabarez's men bristled with intent from the off and could have gone ahead inside two minutes.
Suarez battled his way past two defenders and his scuffed shot was goalbound before Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar managed to smother it behind.
From the resulting Forlan corner, Diego Lugano powered a header on goal which was superbly parried by Villar, with the follow-up from Lugano blocked by the arm of Nestor Ortigoza on the line.
Paraguay's defence had been the foundation for its run to the final but it was breached for the first time in six hours after 12 minutes.
The ball fell fortuitously to Suarez in the area and the Liverpool striker turned smartly before clipping in a shot which beat Villar via Dario Veron's leg and the left-hand post.
Paraguay almost conceded again shortly after the half-hour mark when Suarez put Forlan through but Villar made an important block with his legs.
Suarez then turned the hapless Veron and lashed a shot into the side-netting before picking out strike partner Forlan, whose volley was easy for Villar.
Uruguay was dominating all over the field and it got the second goal its opening-half display deserved three minutes before the break when Egidio Arevalo dispossessed Ortigoza before playing in Forlan and his powerful drive easily beat Villar for his first goal in 13 internationals.
Ortigoza almost redeemed himself nine minutes into the second period when his scooped pass found Nelson Haedo Valdez and his volley produced a wonderful save from Fernando Muslera, the keeper tipping the ball onto the bar.
Paraguay wasted another route back into the contest after 62 minutes when midfielder Cristian Riveros failed to connect with Ivan Piris' cross at the near post after attempting an unnecessary back heel.
The Paraguay rally eventually petered out and Uruguay could have added a third with 16 minutes to go, Edinson Cavani picking out fellow substitute Sebastian Eguren, whose deflected effort was superbly saved by Villar.
But Tabarez's men did have the final say with a wonderful third in the final minute. Cavani swept a cross-field pass to Suarez, whose cushioned header was perfect for Forlan to run on to and slot past the advancing Villar.
1 comment:
COngrats Uruguay... Forlan and Suarez strikes were nice.
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