By FRANCO PANIZO
If getting to the semifinals in last year's World Cup wasn't proof enough that Uruguay was once again a force to be reckoned with, its win in the Copa America final likely was.
Uruguay lifted a record 15th Copa America trophy on Sunday, disposing of Paraguay 3-0 in a match it controlled from the opening whistle. Diego Forlan scored twice and Luis Suarez netted one of his own to break the deadlock between Uruguay and Argentina, each of which entered the tournament with 14 Copa America titles.
Suarez opened the scoring in the 12th minute with a left footed finish that stung off the far post and went in, and Forlan doubled Uruguay's lead with his first goal in over a year three minutes prior to halftime with a left-footed finish. Forlan also put the nail in Paraguay's coffin with a goal in the waning moments of the match.
Paraguay, which had not won a game in regulation or extra time in the tournament, struggled to impose itself offensively against a stout Uruguay defense. The Paraguayans came closest to scoring in the second half off a shot from Naelson Haedo Valdez, but it hit the crossbar.
Here are the highlights from Uruguay's historic win:
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