Match recap: Uruguay 3, Jamaica 0

Both Uruguay and Jamaica came into the final match of the Copa América match looking to salvage something from the tournament. Uruguay left with their pride, and Jamaica with a lot of questions about their future.

La Celeste lined up in a 4-4-2, and manager Óscar Tabárez went with a mix of youth and experience. Galatasaray’s Fernando Muslera was in goal, behind a defense of Maxi Pereira of FC Porto and Atlético Madrid’s Diego Godin - both past their 30th birthday - as well as Godin’s club teammate José Giménez and Torino’s Gastón Silva, who are 21 and 22 respectively. In the midfield was Álvaro González of Mexican side Atlas, Egidio Arévalo Ríos of Mexican side Chiapas FC, Carlos Sánchez of Mexican side Monterrey, and Nicolás Lodeiro of Argentine giants Boca Juniors. Up top, was Paris Saint-Germain's Edinson Cavani and Hull City’s Abel Hernández.

The Reggae Boyz also went with a 4-4-2, however their lineup was exactly the same as it was against Mexico. Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake started in goal, with New England Revolution’s Je-Vaughn Watson, Portland Timbers Jermaine Taylor, Leicester City’s Wes Morgan, and Crystal Palace Adrian Mariappa on defense. In the midfield was Leyton Orient’s Jobi McAnuff, Blackburn Rovers’ Lee Williamson, Chelsea’s Michael Hector, and Reading FC's Garath McCleary. Spearheading the Jamaican attack was the duo of Birmingham City’s Clayton Donaldson and Houston Dynamo’s Giles Barnes.

The match was more of the same for Jamaica, as they struggled to find any offensive rhythm while their defense was taken advantage of time and again by the technically gifted and tactically sound Uruguayans. This would pay off for Uruguay in the 21st minute when Abel Hernández was sprung on a great ball and the defender inexplicably allowed him to stay onside. Hernández drove in and was able to squeeze off a shot that went past and onrushing Andre Blake.

It could have been 2-0 in the 36th minute, as Hernández was again unmarked. This time however Blake was able to get a hand on the shot and force it wide.

After the half, Jamaica had a couple of decent opportunities, but just couldn’t put anything past Muslera. At 67 minutes, disaster struck as Je-Vaughn Watson scored an own goal and Uruguay was up 2-0.

Blake would be victimized by lackluster defending once more, when sub Mathías Corujo picked up a header by Je-Vaughn Watson and ran in on Blake.

Mercifully, Uruguay would score no more and the match ended a 3-0 win for La Celeste. Andre Blake was his typical solid self, and really didn’t deserve to give up any of the goals that he did. Jamaica’s next match is in September against Panama in 2018 World Cup Qualifying.