Uruguay thrash Tahiti 8-0 to sneak into last four

Moments after Tahiti succumbed to its third rout in three matches

Moments after Tahiti succumbed to its third rout in three matches,the fans in Brazil really started to cheer for the team that never stood a chance. The South Pacific islanders enjoyed overwhelming support throughout the Confederations Cup,but the adulation reached a climax Sunday following Tahiti8217;s 8-0 loss to Group B rival Uruguay.

That8217;s when the substitutes walked onto the field at the Arena Pernambuco carrying Brazilian flags and unfurling a large green and white banner with 8220;Obrigado Brasil8221; printed on it. In English,that means 8220;Thank You Brazil.8221;

For Uruguay,the point of Sunday8217;s match was to win and reach the semifinals. They did that,getting four goals from Abel Hernandez and two from second-half substitute Luis Suarez. The World Cup semifinalists,who left strikers Diego Forlan and Edinson Cavani on the bench,will play Brazil in the semifinals on Wednesday in Belo Horizonte.

Hernandez scored a first-half hat trick and added a penalty in the second half. Diego Perez and Nicolas Lodeiro also scored for the South American champions. Hernandez8217;s first goal,a header which came 1 minute,19 seconds into the match,is the fastest to be scored in the history of the World Cup warm-up tournament,according to FIFA.

But Tahiti goalkeeper Gilbert Meriel stopped the final score from getting worse by saving a penalty from Andres Scotti in the 50th minute. One minute later,Scotti was sent off with a second yellow card.

Tahiti even managed to create a few chances,perhaps the best when Marama Vahirua shot at Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Silva in the 34th for an easy save.

Earlier in the half,Tahiti defender Teheivarii Ludivion was given a yellow card in the eighth minute for bringing down Matias Aguirregaray,the first caution the team had received at the tournament. He was then sent off for a second yellow in the 59th. Chong Hue and Tahiti captain Nicolas Vallar also received yellow cards.