Uruguay ease past Canada

Uruguay and Canada faced each other in the unlikely venue of Bratislava, Slovakia, and in a friendly football match which very much felt like a training exercise in a near-empty stadium, it was the South American side who came out on top, winning 2-0.

Despite Canada having more of the ball, the struggled to really find a way through and La Celeste opened the scoring after just six minutes.

It was a goal worthy of a larger audience, too, with Nicolas de la Cruz bending a direct free kick into the top right-hand corner of Milan Borjan's goal.

He slipped a little on the follow through, but that didn't seem to matter as the ball arched over the wall and beyond the keeper.

The Uruguayan striker partnership of Luis Suarez and Darwin Nunez promised a lot, but were relatively quiet in the opening half hour, except for when the Liverpool striker sent a good chance over the ball on the half-volley.

In the 33rd minute, however, the big-name duo combined to double their country's lead.

Suarez headed down the right channel and hit the byline before lifting an inviting cross towards his strike partner who rose tall and headed the ball strongly down and past Borjan.

The second half played out with few events of note and neither side threatening to change the scoreline.

Uruguay proved the importance of being ruthless in what will be a lesson for Canada, who more than matched their opponents on the ball, but not in the final third.