Recaps: Uruguay-Venezuela and Jamaica-Mexico

                 A day with 2 down to the wire of games, Thursday provided drama, heart break, and joy to fans of the sport. The first of these two games was Uruguay vs. Venezuela. Uruguay's leading scorer overall, Luis Suarez, was listed as injured, and wasn't under the substitution category nor the starting XI. After both teams caused early offensive pressure, the scoring broke open in the 36th minute, after Salomon Rondon's close, kind of mishit, bouncing shot. After Alejandro Guerra stole the ball, he caught Uruguay's keeper Fernando Muslera off his line. He blasted a 58 yard shot, that tipped off Muslera's hand, off the crossbar, and in the box. Rondon capitalized on it to give his side the lead. Venezuela almost doubled their goal total, after a no-penalty call lead to a counterattack that had Adalbento Penaranta shooting one from outside the box. Muslera made a foot save and covered it up. In the 90th minute, Edinson Cavani had a great chance to tie. After juking a defender, he had a golden 1-on-1 chance, but his shot went off frame to the right. Cavani had another chance a minute later, but his mishit the bouncing ball and went straight to the keeper. Uruguay's Suarez, though, was the talk of the match. Suarez acted like he was a sub, warming up, and doing some drills, and demanding the staff to be put in. However, he could not be put in, and the frustration showed as Uruguay is eliminated from the tourney.
                With Venezuela in and Uruguay out, Mexico needed just a win to secure its placed in the final 8. They got off to the best start possible in the 18th when Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez scored off a headed cross from Jesus Corona. Before then, Jamaica had a great chance to lead in the seventh when Clayton Donaldson's clean shot on goal was wide. In the 39th, Mexican keeper Guillermo Ochoa made a point blank save from Michael Hector. Jamaica then was furious about a no-call penalty in the 64th when Donaldson fell down after being tackled by Corona. Donaldson had another chance in the 68th but his left footed shot went just wide right. Oribe Peralta would seal the win in the 81st when his left footed shot hit the right post and in from close range. With the win, Jamaica is eliminated and Mexico would face Venezuela for the battle for first place Monday.

Salomon Rondon after the game winner.