Uruguay set up Argentina clash

La Plata, July 13 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) ? World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay beat a young Mexico side 1-0 in the Copa America on Tuesday to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with their River Plate rivals Argentina.

Alvaro Pereira scored the only goal of the match after 14 minutes, taking advantage of a deflection from a Diego Forlan free kick to bury the loose ball from close range.

The result means Uruguay leapfrog Peru to finish second in Group C behind Chile, and will face hosts Argentina in Santa Fe on Saturday.

Peru finish third in the group and also qualify for the quarter-finals, although they will have to wait until Wednesday to find out who they face next.

Mexico, who fielded an under-strength team at the Copa, exit the competition after losing all three group matches.

Uruguay dominated much of the match and could have easily added to their early lead.

Forlan hit the inside of the right hand post with a low shot in the 30th minute and five minutes later his striking partner Luis Suarez forced a fine save from Luis Michel, who tipped the ball over his crossbar for a corner kick.

The Mexicans, who were appearing at the Copa by invitation, were limited to a few counter-attacks, with Giovani Dos Santos their main threat in attack.

The pattern was repeated in the second half and it was only in the final 20 minutes that Mexico turned up the heat.

They appeared to have equalized in the 89th minute through Rafael Marquez but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The Uruguay-Argentina quarter-final pits the two most successful teams in the Copa America against one another. Both teams have won South America's most prestigious competition 14 times apiece.

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