Uruguay, Paraguay make Copa quarters

CUIABÁ, Brazil, June 25 (AFP): Edinson Cavani scored his 52nd goal for Uruguay on Thursday in a 2-0 Copa America victory over Bolivia, who became the first team eliminated from the competition.

Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe scored an unlucky own goal to open the scoring but at times almost single-handedly kept his side in the game.

Paraguay went second in group A behind Argentina with a 2-0 win over Chile, who dropped to third with Uruguay fourth.

The result left Bolivia unable to catch any of the teams above them, who have all qualified for the quarter-finals.

"The appearance of Covid weakened us. We've played well, we tried to play without making mistakes but we didn't have any luck," complained Bolivia coach Cesar Farias.

A first-half header from Braian Samudio and second half Miguel Almiron penalty gave Paraguay a second victory in three matches.

With one match left, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay can still win Group A, while Brazil, who controversially beat Ecuador 2-1 on Wednesday, have already wrapped up top spot in Group B.

Colombia have also qualified for the quarter-finals but one of Peru, Ecuador and Venezuela will miss out.

Uruguay thoroughly deserved their first victory of this year's tournament as they dominated throughout in Cuiaba, registering 22 shots to Bolivia's four.

"The score line doesn't reflect our dominance but we're satisfied," said Uruguay's 74-year-old coach Oscar Tabarez, who added "we didn't make any mistakes in defense."

"Bolivia didn't have any clear chances so we're happy. It's nothing to celebrate but we're satisfied with the way we played and controlled the match."

Uruguay's star veterans Cavani and Suarez -- the two most prolific forwards in Uruguay's history -- were a menace to the Bolivian backline throughout the match, even if they didn't always have their shooting boots on.

At one point, the pair somehow contrived to make a mess of two-on-one situation, delaying shooting opportunities and allowing Lampe to come out and swat the ball off Cavani's toes. By then Uruguay's Giorgian De Arrascaeta had fired over while Lampe had rushed out quickly to smother a Suarez effort.

Rodrigo Ramallo had Bolivia's best first half chance, getting in behind the Uruguayan backline before fizzing a shot inches wide from an angle.

Suarez hit the side-netting with a header and Lampe dived full stretch to tip his freekick around the post.

In between, Uruguay took the lead as De Arrascaeta crossed from the right and a sliding Jairo Quinteros, in trying to prevent either of the veteran forwards converting a simple tap-in, deflected the ball off Lampe and into his own net on 40 minutes.

Lampe was in the thick of things after the break, making a reaction save from Cavani's poke from seven yards, tipping a fierce drive from Rodrigo Betancur over the bar, and scampering backwards to parry a Suarez lob from close to halfway.