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La Celeste fell 1-0 to Venezuela thanks to Salomon Rondon's 36th-minute winner to ensure the 15-time champions are eliminated at the group stage
Uruguay crashed out of the Copa America Centenario after a shock 1-0 defeat to Venezuela on Thursday night leaving coach Oscar Tabarez clinging to his job and downplaying an incident which saw Luis Suarez lose his temper.
The Barcelona striker, struggling with an injury picked up in the Copa del Rey final last month, was NOT involved in La Celeste's matchday squad.
However, Suarez sat on the bench, in full kit, and was seen warming up during the second-half, having seemingly not been told that he would play no part in Philadelphia.
The ex-Liverpool man, top scorer in La Liga last term, also missed the opening defeat to Mexico through injury and let loose his frustration after seeing Tabarez use all three substitutes and being told he wouldn't play in the game, throwing one of his boots on the pitch and punching the dugout.
“There is no situation. The situation is what I told you [on Wednesday]. The player is not ready to play,” said Uruguay coach Tabarez.
“This is an issue about numbers and doctors. Even if the player is upset, I’m not going to play a player who is not 100 per cent.
"If he got upset, that is something I was not aware of. He didn’t tell me anything.”
Suarez was powerless to prevent Uruguay sinking to a first defeat to Venezuela in 10 years, thanks to West Brom striker Salomon Rondon.
The powerhouse forward tapped home the only goal nine minutes before half-time, after Fernando Muslera has turned Alejandro Guerra's 30-yard lob onto the crossbar after being caught out of position.
"It was incredible what 'Lobo' did, the wit he had to hit it," Rondon said. "Luckily I had time to get there and finish."
It made Rondon the first Venezuelan to score at three Copa America finals and ensured that with back-to-back 1-0 wins, that they have qualified for the knockout stages.
That came after ex-Southampton man Gaston Ramirez - starting in Suarez's absence, had earlier hit the post.
For all their huff and puff, Tabarez's men, without the cut-and-thrust of Suarez, failed to create much, until Edinson Cavani, the PSG striker, fluffed his lines in the dying seconds, drilling wide from 15 yards when he should have scored.
Mexico join Venezuela in the quarter-finals, after following their win over Uruguay with a 2-0 triumph over Jamaica.
Javier Hernandez opened the scoring in the 18th minute, heading home unmarked after good work from Jesus Corona down the left.
In an entertaining game, Jamaica keeper Andre Blake enhanced his reputation with a number of fine saves, but Birmingham striker Clayton Donaldson missed four good chances at the other end.
El Tri secured the victory in the 80th minute, thanks to substitute Oribe Peralta.
Three minutes after coming on, he turned home on the break to hand coach Juan Carlos Osorio a 10th successive victory as manager.
"We were convincing at all the right moments," goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa told reporters after the game. "This team has personality and character."
"It's another step forward but we need to keep calm," he added. "Now we face Venezuela, which will be difficult. But we will work hard and prepare to keep moving forward."
Mexico face Venezuela in Houston on Monday night, the winner set to top the group.
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