URUGUAY HAS CONFIRMED ITS HIGH VALUE
— Lucien Gamblin | 30/05/1924 —

The Stade Bergeyre was celebrating yesterday, the large crowd had invaded the popular ground of Buttes-Chaumont. The Uruguayans made a profit (nearly 100,000 francs were collected at the counters) and the whole crowd was just waiting to thrill to the exploits of the South American players.

Uruguay (blue and white). — Goal: Mazali; backs: Nasazzi and Arispe; half-backs: Andrade, Vidal and Tomassina; forwards: Naya, Searone, Petrone, Cea and Romano.

United States (white). — Goal: Douglas; backs: Davis and O'Connor; half-backs: Johnson, Hornberger and Jones; forwards: Findlay, Wells, Stradan, Farrell and Dalrymph.

Referee: M. Barrette (Belgium).

THE MATCH.

After the original presentation of the Uruguayan eleven, which before setting up will give a triple hurrah on each sideline, Mr. Barrette gives the kick-off in the United States, Arispe having won the toss and chose the sun in the back.

From the outset the blue and white attack, the center trio, with small repeated passes, worries Douglas, who narrowly saves a nice shot from Petrone, the United States goes down in turn, but the imprecision of the players with the white jerseys do not allow them to endanger the gate defended by Mazali. Uruguay clearly dominates. The virtuosity of its players is exercised to the great displeasure of their opponents, who can do nothing against their subtle and overly skilful dribbling.

A few shots from Scarone, Petrone and Cea are stopped by Douglas and we narrowly miss the goals. The U.S. goalkeeper has to concede a corner, this one well given is cleared with a header by Davis, but Vidal takes the ball and passes it to Petrone who kicks sharply and scores.

Uruguay, 1 goal; United States, 0.

The whites are not discouraged and play with enthusiasm; they approach the opposing goal, but Arispe easily stops their offensive, and here the Uruguayans set off again to attack. On a cross from the right winger, the ball goes from player to player and Scarone, the last possessor, sends it irrevocably into the goal of Douglas, who dives but cannot prevent the goal.

Uruguay 2, United States 0.

The game continues to be what Uruguayan players want it to be. The blue and white forward line combines excellently, the inside left dribbles all opponents he encounters and, close to the goal, passes to Petrone, completely unmarked; this one shoots powerfully, but too high, the ball hits the bar and goes into the stands.

At this moment, Andrade, the black half-back of Uruguay, is injured and the game is stopped for a moment. Then the United States plays off-side, and this way of doing things works quite well for them, since their adversaries allow themselves to be caught several times and thus see some well-conducted attacks that seemed likely to succeed canceled out.

The game equalizes a little, but it doesn't last, the Uruguayans regain the advantage, and, after a nice combination from the forward line, Petrone scores.

Uruguay: 3; United States: 0.

Immediately afterwards, rest is whistled.

THE SECOND HALF.

After the usual comments and rest, play resumes. Andrade kicks low. The United States attack, but the winger, last possessor of the ball, awkwardly sends it into goal touch.

The game is less beautiful than during the first half. The whites defend themselves better and play a little dry. Uruguay goes down, its forwards exaggerate the dribbling and combine right into the goal area, so the score does not change. The right winger of the blue and white is too individual and aborts many attacks. Scarone dribbles, feints and is slow to kick, Douglas can clear. The same Scarone goes down alone and, embarrassed, blocks the ball, the right winger takes it and crosses. This resumes, but kicks wide.

The United States plays offside again and the five Uruguayan forwards find themselves in an offside position several times. The whites reacted and began some good attacks, stopped by the opposing defense, where Arispe distinguished himself by the sharpness and sureness of his game. Petrone escaped and kicked; Douglas, with an acrobatic jump, saved in a corner — this does not produce any result. The white centre-forward tries to head a high ball, Arispe gives him a violent kick in the back. The referee discusses and does not sanction.

The game has become of average quality, the Uruguayans are living on the lead acquired, and, apart from the personal prowess of their players, do not charm us as in the first half.

The United States defense saves its goal several times, but the left back hard charges the opposing right winger, who rolls off the field. On the ensuing free kick. Pétrone receives the ball in a good position, but takes too long to shoot and gets the ball blown away. The U.S. always plays hard and comes to the Uruguayan camp several times, but their forwards don't know how to shoot. The match lost all its interest; the game is soft and the public does not vibrate as in the first time. The end arrives without change to the mark.

CONSIDERATIONS

Uruguay has a team that is transcendent in every way. All the players have excellent technique and the eleven executes all possible and imaginable combinations with incomparable ease and certainty.

It's some good football.

The United States presented a team with marvelous physical qualities at the Olympic tournament. The players are big, strong and flexible, but ignore the most basic principles of football. The Americans don't know how to catch a ball, their dribbling is childish and their imprecision is great. This team, however, does not allow itself to be imposed and plays its luck with the formidable means that Nature has given to its players. This explains the low score obtained by their winners today.

The best Uruguayans were: Arispe, Vidal, Scarone, Petrone and Romano. Andrade could not shine as usual. Douglas, Davis, Thornberger and Strapan stood out among the United States players.

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Isaque Argolo: Gamblin clearly mistook José Nasazzi for José Arispe.