(Reuters) – Abel Hernandez grabbed four goals as Uruguay’s reserves won 8-0 against Tahiti yesterday, taking the South Americans into a Confederations Cup semi-final with Brazil and sending the Pacific islanders home after a third successive drubbing.
It took Uruguay less than two minutes to open the scoring in the Group B game in Recife when striker Hernandez rose unmarked to head home from a Nicolas Lodeiro corner.
Hernandez sprinted away from a static defence and volleyed past goalkeeper Gilbert Meriel on 24 minutes to add a second and Diego Perez got a third three minutes later when he was left with an open goal after his own header beat the keeper and came back off the post. Hernandez netted his third and Uruguay’s fourth on the stroke of halftime after he beat the offside trap and slotted home from an angle.
Uruguay increased their advantage in the 61st minute when Lodeiro turned Walter Gargano’s cross into the net from close range.
Hernandez grabbed Uruguay’s sixth from a penalty after 67 minutes and substitute Luis Suarez completed the rout with a seventh and eighth in the 81st and 89th minutes.
“I never imagined this, it was brilliant, but we need to keep it up, the important thing for the team was qualifying for the next stage,” the 22-year old Hernandez told reporters.
“I always dreamed of playing and I always wanted to get a chance but I know there are phenomenal players like Suarez and (Diego) Forlan ahead of me. But that’s my goal.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s semi-final against Group A winners Brazil in Belo Horizonte, he said Uruguay will not be overawed by facing the hosts.
“They’ve shown they are a good team, but we also have a good team,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”
