Uruguay defeated 1-0 to Italy at the Estadio Das Dunas in Natal, Brazil on Tuesday evening at the 2014 World Cup and knocked the Azzurri out of the tournament.
Claudio Marchisio was sent-off for a foul on Egidio Arevalo Rios that left Uruguay captain Diego Godin to win the match for the South Americans.
The Azzurri dominated the first half by implementing their “tikitalia” tactics. A web of Italian passes was constantly strung together while the Uruguayans were happy to hit on the counterattack.
Mario Balotelli received a yellow card after jumped too high in an aerial challenge and he collided into Uruguayan left-back Alvaro Pereira.
For all of Italy’s possession, they had very few shots in the first half. Andrea Pirlo’s free-kick was punched over the bar by Fernando Muslera, Balotelli shot horribly wide from distance and Ciro Immobile blasted a shot over the bar.
Uruguay offered little in terms of possession play and had to rely on Luis Suarez’s free-kicks into the box. Most of them were punched away by Gianluigi Buffon and one was headed away from the Italy keeper.
It was the Celeste that had the best chances of the first half. Suarez had an angled shot saved by Buffon and he also saved the rebounding shot from Nicolas Lodeiro.
Marco Parolo replaced Balotelli at half-time, and Uruguay made a change of their own, putting on Maxi Pereira for Lodeiro.
Uruguay made calls for a penalty when Edinson Cavani was held by Leonardo Bonucci and then fell down but the referee did not give the spot kick. Then Cristian Rodriguez pulled a shot wide after a one-two with Suarez.
Claudio Marchisio was given a red card after 59 minutes for colliding into Egidio Arevalo Rios. As he was running forward, Marchisio’s studs went into the shin of Areval
o Rios and referee Marco Rodriguez gave him a straight red.
Italy decided to sit back and hit on the break while Uruguay were forced to control the play. Pirlo blasted a shot over bar after counterattack.
Suarez then had a quick burst into box and Buffon made a great save from the Uruguayan striker.
Mattia De Sciglio received a yellow card for holding Maxi Pereira. Suarez head-butted Chiellini and apparently bit him too at a set-piece but the referee did not see anything.
Uruguay took the lead after 81 minutes when Godin headed in Gaston Ramirez’s corner from the right.
Italy attacked again and Pirlo had a free-kick deflected out for a corner. Muslera got a yellow card for time wasting minutes later but the Azzurri could not find the goal to put them through.
