Brazil were dumped out of the Copa America by 10-man Uruguay, who survived Nahitan Nandez’s red card to win on penalties after a bad-tempered, goalless quarter-final.
Marcelo Bielsa’s team played the final 16Â minutes a man down after Nandez was dismissed for a reckless lunge on Rodrygo, but with star winger Vinicius Junior suspended, Brazil were unable to find a winner and were made to pay in the shoot-out.
Sergio Rochet saved from Eder Militao before Douglas Luiz struck the post, and though Jose Gimenez squandered Uruguay’s first chance to win it, Manuel Ugarte made no mistake with their next attempt.
They will now face Colombia in the last four after James Rodriguez inspired Los Cafeteros to a 5-0 rout of Panama, while Brazil’s wait for a 10th Copa title goes on.
Brazil struggled to match Uruguay’s intensity early on and survived a couple of close calls. Darwin Nunez saw a header hit Militao and drop just wide of the left-hand post before Mathias Olivera powered over the crossbar from the resulting corner.
The Selecao’s first opening came just before the half-hour mark as Endrick intercepted a loose back pass from Matias Vina before finding Raphinha, who was just unable to get his shot off.
Uruguay lost Ronald Araujo to a hamstring injury 33 minutes in, and though the game became littered with fouls, both sides carved out chances before the interval.
Nunez should have done better when he headed Nandez’s glorious right-wing crossover, then Raphinha twice shot straight at Rochet after scampering in behind.
Federico Valverde fired over after the break as the blood-and-thunder nature of the game continued. Referee Dario Herrera repeatedly dipped into his pocket as the challenges became ever more rugged, and with 74 minutes played, he brandished a red card.
Originally booked for catching Rodrygo in full flight with his studs high on his opponent’s ankle, Nandez was given his marching orders following a VAR review.
Penalties were Uruguay’s goal from then on as they sacrificed Nunez for an extra defensive body and sat deep, and they got over the line as Endrick sent a tame effort straight at Rochet, making it three of four Copa quarter-finals to go to a shoot-out this year.
While Uruguay’s first three kicks were perfect, Rochet got down to palm Militao’s effort away and Luiz struck the left post, putting La Celeste on the brink.
Captain Gimenez was denied by a fine stop by Alisson, but Ugarte kept his nerve to blast his kick home and win the tie.