Forlan leads Uruguay to record title

Striker scores two, follows father and grandfather to Copa America glory.

BUENOS AIRES:

Uruguay defeated Paraguay 3-0 on Sunday to win a record 15th Copa America with striker Diego Forlan grabbing two goals and completing an incredible family story.

Liverpool attacker Luis Suarez, the player of the tournament, was also on target as Uruguay claimed a first continental crown since 1995 and broke their all-time Copa title tie of 14 which they held with Argentina.

Family trend for Forlan

For Forlan, it was an emotional triumph as he followed his father and grandfather into the record books as a Copa America winner.

“This really means a lot for me because my grandfather won it, my father won it and now I have also done it,” said the former Manchester United striker, who took his international tally to 31 goals, a record he now holds with Hector Scarone. “Three generations have won this trophy. The name of Forlan will stay in history.”

Suarez opened the scoring in the 12th minute when his drive took a deflection off Dario Veron and left goal-keeper Justo Villar wrong-footed. Atletico Madrid star Forlan added the second three minutes from the interval. It was Forlan’s first goal in 13 matches as Uruguay, who knocked out hosts Argentina in the quarter-finals, were in cruise control at River Plate’s famous Estadio Monumental.

‘Uruguay really wanted it’

“We really wanted this,” said Suarez. “We are a united group and we deserved it. We had to fight like crazy to win this and we’ve achieved something great.”

Captain Diego Lugano said the win was a triumph for the whole of his country.

“I’m really proud of the way we played and the way we did it,” he said. “You cannot imagine how I feel. We’ve made a lot of people very happy.”

With the win, Uruguayan coach Oscar Washington Tabarez earned a deserved reward for five years of overhauling the Celeste.

The Uruguayans had not won a major prize since their last Copa in 1995, but under the studious Tabarez they have been steadily improving.

“It’s all about the institutionalisation and the education of footballers,” said Tabarez, who has sought to create as seamless a transition as possible between his country’s younger age group teams and the senior. “I want to bring the youngsters on with a view to [preparing them for] the next five-year cycle. That is the key to continuity - always maintaining an eye on future reinforcement.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th,  2011.