Uruguay vs Venezuela Goals and Highlights Copa America 2016. <br /> <br />Salomon Rondon’s 36th minute goal sent surprising Venezuela on the cusp of a Copa America Quarterfinal appearance with a 1-0 win over Uruguay Thursday night in Philadelphia. <br /> <br />La Vinotinto has won back-to-back Copa America matches for the first time ever and defeated Uruguay for the first time since 2006. Uruguay, the ninth-ranked team in the world, was pushed to the brink of elimination from Copa America Centenario pending the result of the Jamaica-Mexico game later Thursday. <br /> <br />Rondon was there to knock in a 59-yard attempt on goal from midfielder Alejandro Guerra, a shot so on-target that it forced Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera to tip the ball off the cross bar. The rebound came to Rondon, who bounced the ball past Muslera. <br /> <br />Venezuela, FIFA’s 77th-ranked team, was close to taking a two-goal lead in the 68th minute when Adalberto Penaranta broke free on a counter. But Muslera stopped his shot. <br /> <br />Uruguay had a few chances to score in the first half, all involving forward Edinson Cavani. He and La Celeste came close but didn’t convert, and trailed at halftime. <br /> <br />Cavani’s open shot went just wide in the 89th minute and Uruguay put on more pressure in the final minutes, but nearly conceded a second goal in second half stoppage time. On a last-ditch equalizing attempt, La Celeste summoned Muslera into the penalty area for a corner kick, but Venezuela cleared and caught a fast break, which saw Romulo Otero put his shot towards the empty net just inches wide in the game’s dying seconds. <br /> <br />Defender Maxi Pereira made his 113th national team appearance, becoming Uruguay's all-time leader in caps and surpassing Diego Forlan. Star Luis Suarez warmed up but was held out of the match due to injury. <br /> <br />Venezuela plays Mexico Monday in Houston. Uruguay and Jamaica meet Monday in Santa Clara, California, the Group C finales for all four teams.
