"Uruguay Shines in Copa América Opener: Araújo, Núñez, and Viña Secure Dominant 3-1 Victory Over Panama"
Maximiliano Araújo scored a brilliant left-footed shot into the top far corner in the 16th minute, followed by late goals from Darwin Núñez and Matías Viña, leading Uruguay to a 3-1 victory over Panama in their Copa América opener on Sunday night.
Uruguay, aiming for a record 16th Copa América title, dominated the game with 20 shots, including seven on target. Panama’s Amir Murillo scored a consolation goal late into stoppage time.
The match attracted 33,425 fans to Hard Rock Stadium, home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, which will host the final on July 14 and seven games during the 2026 World Cup.
Earlier on Sunday, the United States defeated Bolivia 2-0 in a Group C game in Arlington, Texas. Uruguay will face Bolivia in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, while Panama will play the U.S. in Atlanta. The group stage concludes on July 1 with a U.S.-Uruguay match in Kansas City, Missouri, and a Panama-Bolivia game in Orlando, Florida. The top two teams advance to the quarterfinals.
Uruguay is tied with Argentina for a record 15 Copa América titles but hasn’t progressed past the quarterfinals since winning its last championship in 2011. Panama did not advance past the group stage in its only previous appearance as a guest team in 2016.
Araújo opened the scoring after receiving a pass from Viña just outside the penalty area, taking a touch, turning, and curling the ball past goalkeeper Orlando Mosquera for his second goal in nine international appearances. Núñez doubled the lead in the 85th minute after Panama lost possession in the center circle. Nicolás de la Cruz sent a long cross to Araújo, whose header deflected off Murillo’s shoulder to Núñez. He volleyed it in from 12 yards for his 12th goal in 24 appearances, his ninth in his last six matches.
Viña extended the lead to 3-0 with a header from de la Cruz’s free kick in stoppage time, outjumping defender Abdiel Ayarza for his first international goal. Murillo spun past a defender to score Panama’s lone goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, his ninth international goal.
Under coach Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay has undergone a rebuilding process following the retirements of Edinson Cavani and Diego Godín. The young squad has shown promise, defeating Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Brazil in World Cup qualifiers and routing Mexico 4-0 in a friendly earlier in June.
