Uruguay start record-chasing Copa América campaign with win over Panama
- Marcelo Bielsa's side dominate in opening group game
- Uruguay chasing record 16th Copa America title
Maximiliano Araujo scored when he sent a left-footed shot into the top far corner in the 16th minute, Darwin Nunez and Matias Vina added late goals and Uruguay beat Panama 3-1 on Sunday night in its Copa America opener.
Seeking a record 16th Copa America title, Uruguay dominated with 20 shots, including seven on target. Michael Amir Murillo scored late into stoppage time for Panama.
The USMNT defeated Bolivia 2-0 in Sunday's earlier Group C game in Arlington, Texas.
Araujo scored the first goal after he received a pass from Vina from just outside the penalty area, took a touch and turned. He tapped the ball twice and curled the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera's outstretched left arm for his second goal in nine international appearances.
Nunez made it 2-0 in the 85th minute after Panama turned the ball over the in the middle of the pitch. Nicolas de la Cruz played a long cross to Araujo, whose header deflected off the shoulder of Murillo and fell to Nunez. He volleyed in from 12 yards out for his 12th goal in 24 appearances, his ninth in his last six matches.
Vina boosted the margin to 3-0 with a header from de la Cruz's free kick in the first minute of stoppage time, out-leaping defender Abdiel Ayarza for his first international goal.
Murrillo spun a defender to beat goalkeeper Sergio Rochet in the fourth minute of stoppage time for his ninth international goal.
Uruguay has undergone a rebuilding process under coach Marcelo Bielsa after the retirement of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godin, and a young roster has shown an ability to contend at the top level. Uruguay beat Lionel Messi and Argentina and a wayward Brazil in World Cup qualifiers, then routed Mexico 4-0 in a friendly early in June.
Luis Suarez, the 37-year-old striker who is Uruguay's career leading scorer and was the player of the tournament in 2011, did not play.