Rodrigo Zalazar scores twice on his Uruguay debut

New Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa named Rodrigo Zalazar in his first starting XI and the midfielder’s debut could not have gone any better. Schalke’s number 10 scored twice in an impressive performance against Nicaragua.

Zalazar was involved in the first goal, playing a nice ball into the box to Facundo Pellistri, who then squared it for Matias Arezo in the eighth minute for 1-0.

Uruguay dominated proceedings and created a number of good chances throughout the game. The hosts broke quickly in the 37th minute via Pellistri and he passed to Zalazar on the edge of the box. The midfielder then picked out the bottom corner for his first international goal.

After Brian Rodriguez made it 3-0 in the 56th minute, Zalazar doubled his tally with a thunderous strike from 20 yards out (82’).

Luis Coronel grabbed a consolation goal for Nicaragua in the second minute of injury time, though Zalazar had gone off seven minutes before this.

Uruguay’s next friendly is at home again in Montevideo to Cuba (21/6, 1:30 CEST).