Uruguay crushed Mexico 4-0, with Darwin Nunez netting a hat-trick to signal his comeback.
With just one goal in his team’s final 11 league games, Nunez, 24, had a rough finish to the season for Liverpool amid rumors of a falling out with departing manager Jurgen Klopp.
But on Wednesday night, when Marcelo Bielsa’s team intensified their preparations for this summer’s Copa America, he gave Uruguay an outstanding performance.
In a pre-tournament friendly against Mexico in Denver, Nunez scored the first goal seven minutes in after he was the first to react and poke the ball home after a tussle in the box.
Shortly after, Man United winger Facundo Pellistri made it two, and Nunez teamed up with Maximiliano Araujo to put his team ahead 3-0 just before the break.
After completing his hat-trick in the 49th minute by tapping in a cross from Pellistri, Nunez was quickly replaced by Facundo Torres.
With his treble, the striker gave himself eight goals in his past five Uruguayan caps.
Nunez declared after the game, “I’m really happy with the result because the team has worked very well.”
“We came here with the mindset of playing a good match and winning it; it wasn’t a friendly match.”
Since former Leeds manager Bielsa took over as manager in May 2023, Uruguay has experienced a rebirth, which includes their most recent triumph.
Under Bielsa, the Sky Blues have won eight of their past 12 games and are considered dark horses for the Copa America, despite their humiliating group stage defeat from the 2022 World Cup.
Even after his team won handily, Bielsa maintained his modesty by saying, “The first half’s result was misleading; Mexico could have scored and the game would have been different.”
“It’s easier to play well when there are large gaps in the field.”
Nunez, who has now scored 11 goals in 23 appearances for his nation, will play when the competition begins this summer.
Group C’s members are Bolivia, Panama, and the US hosts. Uruguay is also included.
