Match Analysis: Team GB 1-0 Uruguay

Team GB secured qualification for the Olympic Games quarter-finals by beating Uruguay 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium tonight.

Daniel Sturridge scored the only goal of the game, but was the result a fair reflection of the action?

Here, Sports Mole offers some analysis on the match.

Match stats:

Team GB:

Shots: 12
On target: 6
Possession: 63
Corners: 3
Fouls: 12

Uruguay:

Shots: 20
On target: 6
Possession: 37
Corners: 6
Fouls: 13

Was the result fair?

On the balance of things, yes. This was the best Team GB display thus far, and in the first half in particular, they dominated a Uruguay side that had been tipped to medal at these Games. Apart from a 15-minute spell just after the hour mark, Uruguay were sluggish and lacklustre, with Edison Cavani and Gaston Ramirez barely involved in anything positive.

Team GB's performance

Excellent on the ball in the first half, equally impressive off the ball in the second. The midfield trio of Joe Allen, Aaron Ramsey and Tom Cleverley dictated the game well as the hosts enjoyed much the greater share of possession in the opening 45 minutes, while Daniel Sturridge and Craig Bellamy proved a threat when running with the ball. When Uruguay stepped it up, GB responded and showed great organisation and togetherness, while Micah Richards and Steven Caulker were solid in the centre of defence.

Uruguay's performance

Too little, too late. Not at the races for the first hour, but when Suarez and co decided they were here to play, they looked capable of finding an equaliser. It was a bit of a lone effort from the Liverpool man though, with fellow big names Edison Cavani and Gaston Ramirez largely ineffective.

Man of the Match

Craig Bellamy. The Welshman has been the star for Team GB thus far and today was no different. Such an attacking threat and looked unstoppable when he ran at pace. Was stand-in captain tonight in the absence of Ryan Giggs and lead by example in his home city.

Biggest gaffe

Daniel Sturridge somehow missed one from the centre of an open goal, six yards out. Okay, Scott Sinclair was offside in the build-up, but I'm not going to let the Chelsea striker get off on a technicality!

Referee's performance

Excellent. Can't remember him making a single mistake all match. Draft him into the Premier League!

What next?

Team GB:

A very winnable quarter-final against South Korea on Saturday. If Stuart Pearce's men can negotiate that match, they WILL be playing for a medal later in the tournament.

Uruguay:

A long flight home, probably after an even longer dressing down from the manager in the changing room. Real underachievers at a Games at which they were expected to be among the medals.