With Bruno Méndez, Uruguay thrash Nicaragua in Marcelo Bielsa’s debut

Experienced coach Marcelo Bielsa debuted with the right foot ahead of the selection of Uruguay. This Wednesday night, Celeste received Nicaragua, at the Centenario Stadium, in Montevideo (URU), in a friendly match and thrashed by 4 to 1. Arezo, Zalazar (twice) and Brian Rodríguez scored the goals. Americans, while Luis Coronel cashed out.

However, the 67-year-old commander, who made an innovative call-up by preferring to test young players, leaving medallions out, chose not to list left-back Piquerez, from palm treesand put defender Bruno Méndez, from Coritnhianson the field at 40 minutes of the final stage.

In fact, in addition to the 11 starters, Bielsa chose only five athletes for the list of substitutes in the confrontation: Santiago Mele (goalkeeper), the Corinthians defender, Carballo (midfielder), from GuildRossi (forward) and Thiago Borbas (forward), from Red Bull Bragantino. varela, do Flamengo, was the only representative of Brazilian football cast as a starter. Viña, formerly of Palmeiras and currently at Nottingham Forest-ING, captained the team.

With that, Celeste entered the field to face the Nicaraguan selection as follows: Israel; Varela (Bruno Mendez), Sebastian Caceres, Vineyard and Olaza; Emiliano Martinez, Zalazar (Carballo) and Maxi Araújo (Rossi); Pellistri, Brian Rodriguez and Arezo (Thiago Borbas).

Performing in front of their crowd, who applauded the presence of the under-20 delegation, champion of the World Cup, the Uruguayans needed just seven minutes to score the first goal of the match. After the table, Pellistri received Zalazar’s launch on the right end and crossed first. In the area, Arezo appeared to shore up and open the scoring.

At 36 minutes, after Nicaragua’s mistake with a free-kick, Uruguay launched a counterattack with Pellistri. The Manchester United striker advanced with the ball and, close to the area, triggered Zalazar, who set free and hit the opponent’s left corner to extend the advantage.

On the way back from the break, Brian Rodriguez scored the third for Celeste, in the 11th minute of the second half. Zalazar carried the ball and back-heeled it to Emiliano Martínez, who, in turn, opened it with Brian Rodríguez on the left, for him to finish and swing the net. At 37 minutes, the number 16 himself took advantage of Nicaragua’s defense to shoot from medium distance, with force, and score the fourth goal.

Already in the final additions of the game, at 46 minutes, Nicaragua reduced with Luis Coronel. After a free kick on the left, the attacker went free inside the area, headed, hit the right post, and he got the rebound to send it to the bottom of the goal.

Now, Marcelo Bielsa’s Uruguay returns to the field next Tuesday, when they face Cuba, at 20:30 (Brasília time), again at Centenario Stadium. For their part, Nicaragua visits Paraguay on Sunday, starting at 11:30 am, at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium, in Asuncion (PAR).

🇺🇾 𝙂𝘼𝙉𝙊́ 𝙐𝙍𝙐𝙂𝙐𝘼𝙔!@Uruguay 4-1 Nicaragua

⚽ Matías Arezo
⚽️⚽️ Rodrigo Zalazar
⚽️ Brian Rodriguez

📌 Close FIFA

📺 https://t.co/l3PMoeWV5O#ElEquipoQueNosUne pic.twitter.com/FOXNHGlFqg

— Uruguayan National Team (@Uruguay) June 15, 2023