Cavani calls Jamaica an African team
Print Edition
URUGUAY striker Edinson Cavani has apologized for calling Jamaica an African team.
While analyzing Uruguay’s first opponent in the Copa America, the Paris Saint-Germain player said that all teams are difficult to play against, especially “an African team, which we all know focus on their physical strength.”
Cavani used his Twitter account on Thursday to apologize to the Caribbean nation. He said that “in my mind I compared the similar playing styles of the Jamaicans and the African nations, but I only expressed half of my reasoning and it sounded pretty bad.”
Uruguay plays against Jamaica to0day to open Group B in the South American tournament that began on Thursday in Chile. Arturo Vidal and Eduardo Vargas scored second-half goals to give Chile a 2-0 win over Ecuador in the opener.
Vidal opened the scoring by converting a 63rd-minute penalty and Vargas sealed the victory on a breakaway in the 82nd, giving the hosts the early lead in Group A.
Chile is considered one of the favorites to win the 12-nation tournament for the first time thanks to a “Golden Generation” of players that include Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Claudio Bravo and Jorge Valdivia.
Boosted by the home crowd that packed the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez in Santiago, Chile took the initiative but had difficulties creating significant scoring opportunities.
The penalty call came after Vidal was pulled down inside the area by defender Miller Bolanos, and the Juventus midfielder sent a firm shot into the right upper corner, giving no chance to goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez.
“The first game is difficult, we were nervous,” Vidal said. “The result is the most important.”
Vargas, who entered the match at halftime, added to the lead with a right-footed shot from inside the area on a breakaway that started after a mistake by the Ecuadorean defense near midfield.
Chilean substitute midfielder Matias Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after receiving his second yellow card.
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