Chile 0-0 Uruguay Player Ratings: Lucas Cepeda 8/10 Rated in Highly Anticipated Chile vs Uruguay Draw

Round 18 of the WC Qualification South America clash between Chile and Uruguay at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos ended in a hard-fought 0-0 draw. This match was a classic South American grinder. It was tense, physical, and ultimately, a defensive masterclass from both sides. Chile, playing at home, will feel they should have won. They dominated possession for spells and registered more shots, but just couldn't find a way past a resolute Uruguayan backline. We noticed Uruguay seemed content to absorb pressure. They relied on the counter-attack, which rarely clicked into gear. What stood out to us was the sheer number of fouls. The referee's whistle was a constant soundtrack to the evening. This broke up the rhythm of the game. It prevented either team from building any real momentum. Federico Valverde came closest for the visitors, rattling the woodwork with an effort from distance. But ultimately, it was a night where defenders were the real heroes. The game simmered but never truly boiled over into a classic encounter, leaving both sets of fans with a sense of what if. Here are the Chile vs Uruguay player ratings.

Chile Player Ratings vs Uruguay

Here are the Chile player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Lawrence Vigouroux - 6.5: Had a relatively quiet evening, which is a testament to his defense. He made one key save inside the box and showed confidence with his distribution. We didn't see much to truly test him, but he did what was required with no fuss.

Defenders

Fabián Hormazábal - 7.0: A solid performance from the defender. He was diligent in his defensive duties, making a key tackle and recovering the ball seven times. What stood out to us was his willingness to support the attack, drawing two fouls in dangerous areas. He was subbed off late, having put in a real shift.

Guillermo Maripán - 7.5: A commanding presence at the back for Chile. From our perspective, he was one of the standout defenders on the pitch. He won his aerial battles, made crucial clearances, and was surprisingly creative, setting up a big chance for a teammate. His only blemish was being dribbled past a couple of times, but overall a very strong display.

Paulo Díaz - 7.5: An absolute rock. Díaz's stats speak for themselves: four tackles won from five attempts is impressive stuff. He read the game brilliantly, making two interceptions and four clearances. He was strong, composed, and snuffed out several Uruguayan attacks before they could even start. A truly dominant defensive performance.

Gabriel Suazo - 7.0: The captain led by example with a tireless display. He recovered the ball an impressive eight times and made a crucial clearance off the line that saved a certain goal. He was a bit loose in possession at times, but his defensive contribution was immense. We noticed his leadership and work rate were infectious.

Midfielders

Javier Altamirano - 6.5: A busy but slightly frustrating night for the midfielder. He worked hard and showed good passing accuracy but lost possession eight times, which stalled some of Chile's momentum. He created a chance and was always involved, but lacked that final bit of quality to unlock the defense.

Felipe Loyola - 6.0: A difficult outing for Loyola, who was hooked at halftime. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and struggled to impose himself on the game. While he did create two chances, his indiscipline and the risk of a second yellow likely led to his substitution. A day he'll want to forget.

Emiliano Maximo Ramos Avilés - 5.5: We were disappointed with his performance. He struggled to get into the game and missed a big chance that could have changed the match. He was largely anonymous before being substituted in the 70th minute. It just wasn't his night.

Rodrigo Echeverría - 7.0: The silent engine in Chile's midfield. His pass accuracy of 95% was sublime, and he bossed the middle of the park with three tackles won and eight ball recoveries. He provided a solid platform for the more attacking players, rarely putting a foot wrong. An understated but excellent performance.

Lucas Cepeda - 8.0: Our man of the match. This kid was a livewire throughout the 90 minutes. He was the source of almost all of Chile's creativity, creating an incredible six chances and registering three key passes. He had four shots himself, constantly probing the Uruguayan defense. A brilliant, energetic performance that deserved a goal.

Forwards

Ben Brereton Díaz - 6.0: A frustrating evening for the frontman. He got into good positions and had four shots, but his finishing was wayward, and he missed a big chance. From our perspective, he looked a bit off the pace and struggled to link up play effectively. We expected more from him.

Substitutes

Vicente Pizarro - 6.5: Came on at halftime and brought some stability to the midfield. Kept it simple and tidy.

Gonzalo Tapia - 6.0: Replaced the ineffective Ramos but couldn't provide the spark Chile needed.

Lucas Assadi - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Alexander Aravena - N/A: Had one shot from distance but didn't have enough time to influence the game.

Ian Garguez - N/A: A late defensive change.

Manager

Sergio Rodolfo Santín Spinelli - 6.5: His team was well-organized and created better chances. However, they lacked a clinical edge in the final third. His substitutions were logical but failed to change the outcome. A solid point, but he'll feel it should have been three at home.

Uruguay Player Ratings vs Chile

Here are the Uruguay player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Santiago Mele - 7.0: Made a crucial save to deny Chile in the first half and was commanding with his high claims. His distribution was solid, though he did pick up a yellow card for time-wasting. A reliable performance that earned his team a valuable clean sheet.

Defenders

Sebastián Cáceres - 6.5: Had a very busy night against Chile's lively attackers. He won a decent amount of his duels but also committed three fouls, showing the pressure he was under. He stood firm when it mattered, making important clearances and interceptions. A solid, if unspectacular, defensive shift.

Ronald Araujo - 7.5: What a beast. From our perspective, Araujo was the main reason Uruguay kept a clean sheet. He was immense, making two crucial blocked shots and winning his duels with ease. His positioning was perfect, and he read danger like a book. A world-class defensive display.

Nahitan Nández - 7.0: Deployed in a defensive role, Nández was tenacious and effective. He won three of his duels and was a constant nuisance on the right flank. He also managed to create a chance, showing his versatility. A disciplined and hard-working performance.

Matías Viña - 6.5: A solid and dependable performance from Viña. He was particularly strong in the air, winning three of his four aerial duels. He kept his flank secure and contributed with three clearances. He didn't offer much going forward but did his defensive job well.

Midfielders

Manuel Ugarte - 6.5: A classic Ugarte performance full of grit and determination. He was constantly in the wars, drawing fouls and breaking up play. However, he struggled to win his individual battles, losing three of his four duels. A tireless but somewhat ineffective display.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 6.5: Very tidy in possession with 94% pass accuracy, but it was all a bit too safe. We wanted to see him take more risks and drive the team forward. He recovered the ball well but offered little in an attacking sense. A stable, but uninspiring, performance.

Federico Valverde - 7.0: The captain was Uruguay's biggest threat. He was unlucky to see his powerful shot cannon back off the woodwork. He was always looking to make things happen, but was also a little wasteful in possession. A mixed bag, but his quality was still evident.

Forwards

Darwin Núñez - 5.0: What a disappointing night for the Liverpool man. He was completely isolated and ineffective. He lost possession eight times and won just three of his ten duels. He offered nothing in front of the goal and was rightly substituted. The worst performer on the pitch for us.

Brian Rodríguez - 6.0: He showed flashes of what he can do, creating two chances with some neat passes. However, he was incredibly frustrating, losing the ball ten times. The end product just wasn't there, and he was substituted after 71 minutes of fruitless running.

Cristian Olivera - 6.5: He had one of Uruguay's few shots on target and worked hard off the ball, recovering the ball seven times. Like his fellow attackers, he was often wasteful, but at least he showed some fight and energy. A decent effort in a struggling attack.

Substitutes

Kevin Amaro - 6.0: Came on for Rodríguez but couldn't provide any more of a threat.

Federico Viñas - N/A: Replaced the poor Núñez but had little time or service to make an impact.

Manager

M. Bielsa Caldera - 7.0: He set his team up to be difficult to beat, and it worked perfectly. The defensive structure was flawless, earning a valuable away point. However, his attack looked completely toothless. A pragmatic masterclass in getting a result on the road, even if it wasn't pretty to watch.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Lucas Cepeda