In what was a practical knockout match for the USA, they failed to defeat eventual group leaders Uruguay losing the game, 1-0. The game’s only goal scorer was Uruguay’s young defender Mathias Oliviera, who plays his club football with the Italian side SSC Napoli.
In the 66th minute, Ronald Araujo headed a free-kick cross with power only to see it being saved by the American goalie, only for Oliviera to pounce on the opportunity and turn it in. The goal was very controversial as the USA appealed or offside. But the VAR officials decided otherwise and decided that the goal was indeed not offside. From initial replays, Mathias Oliviera’s run into the USA penalty box looked clearly offside, but the offside grid made it seem like he was on.
But the debate continued among football fans with many thinking the Uruguayan centre-half might have been treading the USMNT’s offside trap before scoring the goal. People have even suggested that the hosts were robbed by the referees. Many different angles surfaced on the internet post-match clearly showing that Mathias Oliviera was indeed offside. The Copa America doesn’t have the semi-automated offside system like the Euros, and the cameras capturing the VAR actions are not as clear as they should be for a match of such high stakes.
This has been one of the many quality control issues revolving the Copa America this year. But this wasn’t the only decision by the referee’s was seen in bad light by American fans and football fans worldwide. In the first half, a very weird situation arose when one of Uruguay’s forwards was fouled by USA’s Chris Richards in the USA’s half. The referee brandished the yellow card because of the seriousness of the foul. But even before he could write Richards’ name in his book, La Celeste took the free-kick quickly starting a counterattack on the out-of-position American defence.
While the attack did not surmount anything in the end, as Timothy Ream cleared the ball off the line in spectacular fashion, it sure looked as if the Referee did a huge favour to Uruguay by not stopping the play and letting it continue. The American players were outraged at this decision and the frustration was visible on their faces throughout the match.
USA’s captain, Christian Pulisic even made a gesture towards the referees which has got people talking about it. After the final whistle was blown, Pulisic walked up to the referees and gestured them to go celebrate with the Uruguayan players. Not only that, the referees further refused to shake the USMNT skipper’s hand. This was very weird as every sportsperson is taught to show respect to the referees once the game is over irrespective of the result. And naturally, players expect it back. People have even called out this shameful behaviour by the referees on the internet.
But while USA’s campaign ended yesterday, Uruguay are all set to take on the Group D runners-up Brazil in their Copa America quarterfinals.
