NANNING, China, March 22 (Xinhua) -- Cristian Stuani scored a brace to help an underpowered Uruguay beat Uzbekistan 3-0 at the China Cup here on Friday.
Uruguay, whose famed striking duo of Luis Suarez and Edison Cavani were absent due to injury, went ahead in the fifth minute when midfielder Gaston Pereiro drove a cut-back pass from Nicolas Lodeiro past Uzbekistan goalkeeper Sanjar Kuvvatov.
Stuani scored Uruguay's second goal in the 23rd minute. The 32-year-old striker, who scored 17 goals for La Liga club Girona so far this season, collected the ball which Uzbekistan defender Egor Krimets failed to clear and deftly lobbed it in.
Stuani's second goal came in the 82nd minute when he poked in a pass from teammate Jonathan Rodriguez.
Uzbekistan could hardly threaten Uruguay's defence where Diego Godin and Maria Gimenez, Atletico Madrid's reliable defending partners, offered solid protection for their goal.
Uruguay, who won the China Cup title last year, will meet Thailand, who beat China 1-0 on Thursday, in the final next Monday.
