Uruguay

An estimated 1 million people mobbed the streets of the capital yesterday to celebrate a Mexican victory in World Cup soccer competition. Police said five people died during impromptu street parties, but other authorities later disputed the report. The outpouring that followed Mexico's 2-0 victory over Bulgaria on Sunday caused a massive eight-hour traffic jam in downtown Mexico City, turning the Paseo de la Reforma, the capital's main thoroughfare, into a giant pedestrian mall.

President Bush arrived in Uruguay today on a salute-to-democracy tour of South America, but U.S. officials looked ahead with some anxiety toward his planned stop in strife-torn Argentina. After an airport welcoming ceremony, Bush, the first American president to visit Uruguay since Lyndon Johnson in 1967, proceeded directly to talks with President Luis Alberto Lacalle. U.S. officials were not surprised that a military rebellion in Argentina fizzled, but there were lingering concerns over Bush's safety.

Colombia reached the semifinals of the Copa America soccer tournament yesterday in Montevideo, Uruguay, beating Paraguay, 5-4, on penalties after the teams tied at 1-1. In yesterday's other quarterfinal match, striker Daniel Fonseca scored the deciding goal to give Uruguay a 2-1 victory over Bolivia. Uruguay, bidding to match Argentina's record of 14 Copa America titles, will play Colombia on Wednesday. The United States will attempt to reach the semifinals when it faces Mexico today in Paysandu, Uruguay.

One could almost say the show "Las (In)Visibles: Women Artists of Uruguay" at Hicks Gallery is an attempt to embody a moment of political consciousness through a simple series of choices that 17 featured artists made in their subject matter. Indeed, turbulent pitch does set the theme for this show, and so does pungent imagery. Much of the featured work of these artists seems awkward, hesitant, yet at times powerful. This all-media show is apparently a first in a traveling format to examine the achievement and travails of present-day women artists in this nation of 3 million.

Uruguay won the Copa America for a record 15th time after beating Paraguay, 3-0, Sunday on two goals by Diego Forlan and another from Luis Suarez . The victory gives Uruguay its first Copa America title since 1995. The country of 3.5 million also reached the World Cup semifinals a year ago, surpassing the performance of continental powers Brazil and Argentina. Joe Hart saved A.J. DeLaGarza 's penalty and then scored the winner in the ninth round of a shootout as Manchester City beat the Los Angeles Galaxy, 7-6, on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in Carson, Calif.

Starting its final run of World Cup warm-ups, the United States finds itself in an unusual position: The offense looks good and the defense is shaky. Tony Sanneh and DaMarcus Beasley scored first-half goals yesterday in Washington during a 2-1 exhibition soccer win over Uruguay, whose speed exposed the Americans' problems with their outside backs. Making matters worse, top defensive midfielder Chris Armas suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss the World Cup. No immediate replacement was picked.

Brazil kept its string of qualifying for every World Cup, getting two second-half goals from Romario yesterday to beat Uruguay, 2-0, before a crowd of 103,000 in Rio de Janeiro and clinch its 15th appearance in soccer's world championship. Romario, recalled last weekend from Barcelona in the Spanish League, gave Brazil the lead in the 72d minute on a header. He scored again 10 minutes later, dribbling past two defenders and tapping the ball over the goalkeeper's head. Brazil (5-1-2)

If this tiny country sandwiched between Argentina and Brazil is any example, South America is drifting leftward again, away from the United States and its gospel of free-market capitalism. Uruguay, one of the region's most stable democracies and oldest U.S. allies, may soon elect its first leftist government. Leftists already rule four countries in the southern cone of the continent. Ecuador and Bolivia are ripe for revolution, with long-standing conflicts between white-minority governments and angry Indian and mixed-race majorities that want self-rule.

Martin J. Silverstein, a Philadelphia lawyer and Republican fund-raiser, has been tapped by President Bush to be ambassador to Uruguay. Silverstein, 47, of Merion, is on the board of directors of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia and the board of governors of the Middle East Forum/Middle East Quarterly. He also raised more than $100,000 for Bush's presidential campaign. Silverstein said yesterday that he had been asked by the White House not to comment until his nomination is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

LeBron James couldn't miss, not from three-point range, and certainly not while soaring for a series of powerful dunks. And that was all before halftime. James went 11-for-11 from the field, including making all four of his three-point attempts to finish with 26 points to lead the United States to a 118-79 win over Uruguay (2-4) in the second round of the FIBA Americas tournament in Las Vegas last night. Despite playing only 14 minutes, he fell two points shy of the American record in an Olympic qualifying game shared by Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.

Uruguay won the Copa America for a record 15th time after beating Paraguay, 3-0, Sunday on two goals by Diego Forlan and another from Luis Suarez . The victory gives Uruguay its first Copa America title since 1995. The country of 3.5 million also reached the World Cup semifinals a year ago, surpassing the performance of continental powers Brazil and Argentina. Joe Hart saved A.J. DeLaGarza 's penalty and then scored the winner in the ninth round of a shootout as Manchester City beat the Los Angeles Galaxy, 7-6, on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in Carson, Calif.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - A surprising Copa America will end Sunday with favored Uruguay playing a Paraguayan team that hasn't won a game at the tournament. Uruguay is trying to become the tournament's most successful team. Paraguay is looking to prove it deserves South America's most important soccer trophy despite its poor play. The final at Monumental Stadium will cap a tournament in which Argentina and Brazil didn't even make it past the quarterfinals. . Uruguay, a World Cup semifinalist last year, has a chance to win a record 15th Copa America title, one more than host Argentina.

All-star center Steven Stamkos signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, two months after helping the team make a surprising run to the Eastern Conference finals. Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman announced the deal, saying that even though the deal took several months to come together that there never was a doubt that Stamkos - a restricted free agent - would remain with the team. Stamkos, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft, had 45 goals - 17 on the power play - and 91 points last season.

Former president-turned-dictator Juan Maria Bordaberry, 83, whose coup launched more than a decade of military rule in Uruguay, died Sunday in Montevideo at his home, where he was serving a sentence for leading efforts to eliminate leftist dissent in the 1970s. Mr. Bordaberry had been suffering from breathing problems and other illnesses that kept him from serving the 30-year sentence in prison. He died on his 83d birthday. A wealthy conservative landowner, he was elected president in 1971 during a chaotic time in Uruguay, when wealthy elites and leftist Tupamaro guerrillas both saw armed revolution as a real path to power.

SEATTLE - Fredy Montero scored his third goal in two games with a diving header in the 82d minute, Mauro Rosales scored off a pass from Montero two minutes later, and the Seattle Sounders remained unbeaten in their last nine matches with a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Seattle rallied twice against the defending MLS Cup champions before breaking through for a pair of goals in the final 10 minutes for its sixth victory during the unbeaten streak. San Jose 0, Columbus 0 COLUMBUS, Ohio - Earthquakes goalkeeper Jon Busch and his counterpart William Hesmer made several crucial saves in the scoreless tie. Kansas City 1, Houton 1 HOUSTON - Aurelien Collin scored late in the second half as Sporting K.C. extended its unbeaten streak to 11 games with a draw against the undermanned Dynamo.

Uruguay vs. Chile 6 p.m. Friday (Telefutura) This Copa America game is loaded with attacking talent: Diego Forlán and Luis Suarez for Uruguay, and Alexis Sanchez and Humberto Suazo for Chile. England vs. France 11:30 a.m. Saturday (ESPN) The Women's World Cup quarterfinals start with Kelly Smith leading England against France, one of the most entertaining teams in the tournament. Argentina vs. Costa Rica 8:30 p.m. Monday (Telefutura)

Mark J. Gerard, the veterinarian for champion horses Secretariat and Kelso whose racing career was ruined when he ran a ringer in a 1977 race at Belmont Park, has died. He was 76. He died June 21 in Miami from complications from a stroke, according to his sister, Joyce Aimee Titchnell, of Los Angeles. He was at work on June 6 at a stable in Wellington, Fla., where he treated polo ponies, when he was stricken. Gerard worked at New York's major racetracks in the 1960s and '70s, overseeing the health of hundreds of top horses.

Who: Netherlands vs. Uruguay What: Semifinal game When: Today, 2:30 p.m. Where: Green Point Stadium, Cape Town TV: ESPN, Univision For kicks: The Dutch are the lone perfect team left, 5-0 after 2-1 quarterfinal win over Brazil . . . Goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg made the save of the tournament to prevent Brazil from taking a 2-0, first-half lead in that game . . . Defender Gregory van der Wiel, midfielder Nigel de Jong both...

URUGUAY . . . Germany, Netherlands, Spain, you could have predicted any of them to find a way through to the World Cup semifinals. But Uruguay, World Cup champion of 1930 and 1950, fifth-place finisher in South American qualifying, qualifier only through a 2-1, two-game aggregate score against Costa Rica . . . in the semifinals? The Celeste, as the national team is known in Montevideo, face Netherlands in today's semifinal, following a first-place finish in the group stage, a 2-1 second-round win over South Korea, and the improbable 2-1, 4-2 penalty-shootout win over Ghana in the quarterfinals.

U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati, who was disappointed by the U.S. team's showing in the World Cup, plans to meet with coach Bob Bradley after the World Cup to "discuss the coach's future. " Part of Gulati's disappointment at missing the quarterfinals date with Uruguay is marketing. He lamented the lost TV ratings and chance to stay in the public eye a bit longer. He also wonders if having a more charismatic coach would help. Is this the end of the Bob Bradley era?