The Venezuelan side came into the Group C contest as the outsiders but took full advantage of the absence of star Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, with Salomón Rondón scoring what proved to be the winning goal after 36 minutes.

The result sent the Uruguayans crashing out of the tournament at the group stage and saw Venezuela record back-to-back Copa América wins for the first time in their history.

They were joined in the last eight by Mexico, who beat Jamaica 2-0 at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena thanks to goals from Javier Hernandez and Oribe Peralta.

Venezuela and Mexico have six points and will clash on Tuesday (June 14) to decide who finishes at the summit of the group.

After a tense opening where both sides struggled to fashion many clear-cut opportunities, Venezuela, who occupy 77th place on the FIFA rankings, went ahead in fortuitous circumstances.

Alejandro Guerra lobbed Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera, who thought he had thwarted the audacious effort when he tipped the ball onto the crossbar only for it to fall perfectly for Rondon to tap in from close range.

The Uruguayans pushed forward in search of an equaliser but they needed Muslera to stop them going further behind as he made a super save from Adalberto Penaranda 22 minutes from time.

Without the Barcelona star in their ranks, Uruguay lacked their usual potency and couldn’t find a way through a stern Venezuelan defence, although Edinson Cavani wasted two chances late on to snatch a point.

“It was incredible what 'Lobo' did, the wit he had to hit it," Rondon said.

"Luckily I had time to get there and finish.”

Unlike their Uruguayan counterparts, Mexico, backed by raucous support in Pasadena, comfortably overcame Jamaica.

Bayer Leverkusen forward Hernandez put his side in front when he guided home a pinpoint Jesus Corona delivery after 17 minutes.

The two sides traded half-decent opportunities during an entertaining contest but Mexico never looked in doubt of claiming victory and they managed to seal the three points late on as Peralta rounded off a swift counter-attacking move.