MONTEVIDEO (Dispatches) - Edinson Cavani was on target as Uruguay beat Bolivia 2-0 to qualify for the quarterfinals of the Copa America.
The Manchester United striker had spurned a number of chances before he converted Facundo Torres’ cross with 11 minutes remaining.
Uruguay had earlier gone ahead when Bolivia defender Jairo Quinteros turned Giorgian de Arrascaeta’s cross into his own net shortly before half-time.
The win moves them up to third in Group A with four points from three games.
Oscar Tabarez’s side play Paraguay in their final group game in Rio on Monday.
Elsewhere in Group A, Newcastle United midfielder Miguel Almiron scored one and set up another as Paraguay beat Chile 2-0.
The result means that Bolivia cannot reach the knockout stage with Argentina, Paraguay, Chile and Uruguay all qualifying for the quarter-finals.
Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe scored an unlucky own goal to open the scoring but at times almost single-handedly kept his side in the game.
Even so, Bolivia will be the first side eliminated from the Copa if Paraguay avoided defeat against Chile in the late Group A match.
Uruguay thoroughly deserved their first win of this year’s tournament as they dominated throughout.
They could even yet win the group, currently led by Argentina, if other results go their way.
The first clear sight of goal fell to Uruguay’s Giorgian De Arrascaeta, but after shifting the ball onto his left foot he blazed it well over the bar from 20 yards.
Two minutes later Bolivia’s Rodrigo Ramallo got behind the Uruguayan backline but fizzed a shot inches wide from an angle.
Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was next to garner a sight of goal but Lampe was out quickly to smother his effort.
On 20 minutes a long ball over the top left star players Cavani and Suarez -- the two most prolific forwards in Uruguay’s history -- with a two-on-one situation.
But the veteran pair somehow contrived to make a mess of it, delaying shooting opportunities and allowing Lampe to come out and swat the ball off Cavani’s toes.
Cavani was later denied by a last ditch tackle, while Suarez sent a header into the side netting 10 minutes from halftime.
The pair were a constant menace to the Bolivia backline, though, and their pressure resulted in the opening goal.
De Arrascaeta crossed from the right and a sliding Jairo Quinteros, in trying to prevent either of the veteran forwards converting a simple tap-in, deflected the ball off Lampe and into his own net.
There was still time before the break for Lampe to plunge to his left to keep out a Suarez freekick.
Lampe started the second half the way he ended the first, denying Cavani from seven yards with a reaction block.