Luis Suarez struck again in the most dramatic fashion. The 37-year-old Inter Miami striker, one of soccer’s most controversial figures, came off the bench to equalize for Uruguay in stoppage time, pushing this chaotic match into a penalty shootout.
Ismael Kone, who had earlier scored a brilliantly innovative goal, and Alphonso Davies, the star of the Canadian team, both missed their penalties, handing victory to Uruguay.
Rodrigo Bentancur had given Uruguay the lead with a sharp-angled finish, and Kone equalized for Canada with an audacious standing bicycle kick. Though Facundo Pellestri saw his first-half goal disallowed after a VAR review, Jonathan David scored off the bench in the 80th minute to put Canada back in front, seemingly securing a $1 million windfall. However, Suarez had different plans.
Pre-match comments from former Leeds United coaches added fuel to the fire. Marcelo Bielsa labeled the tournament as “unprofessional,” while Jesse Marsch complained that his side had been treated like “second-class” citizens, setting the stage for a lively encounter.
In the end, it was Uruguay and Bielsa who triumphed.