Cavani fires Uruguay to China Cup with victory

Nanning : Wales lost in the China Cup final as Edinson Cavani’s goal secured victory for an impressive Uruguay side.

A frantic first half somehow ended goalless despite several chances at both ends, with Wales lucky not to be trailing at the break after Barcelona forward Luis Suarez twice hit the post.

The South Americans moved up a gear in the second half, and Cavani gave them a deserved lead with a tap-in.

Wales could not find an equaliser despite sub Lee Evans coming close. They competed valiantly but the tempo deteriorated in the closing stages as new manager Ryan Giggs’ second match in charge ended in defeat. The former captain had made the perfect start to his tenure with Thursday’s 6-0 hammering of China, in which Gareth Bale scored a hat-trick to become Wales’ leading goalscorer.

But if China seemed like simple cannon fodder, former World Cup and Copa America champions Uruguay were a different proposition altogether.