For the seventh edition of the South American football Championship (known as Copa América since 1975), Paraguay is initially designated as host of the competition, but the lack of infrastructure and economic problems forced him to renounce the organization of the competition. Uruguay is finally chosen as host country of the South American football Championship 1923. Three of the other four nations affiliated to CONMEBOL are in the tournament, Brazil (titleholder), Argentina and the Paraguay. All matches of the competition take place in the estadio Gran Parque Central in the capital Montevideo, the stage being for this occasion inaugurated after having burned the same year.
For this edition, the winner of the tournament qualifies for the Olympics Game 1924 in Paris.
In the rules of football in 1923, no replacement players is expected during a match, and the referee does not yet of yellow and red cards.
The four participating selections of the competition vie for victory in a single group, each in turn, meeting team finishing first group won the competition. A won match scores 2 points, a match draw 1 point, and a loss 0 point.
In case of equality of points between the top teams in the group, a second round is expected to know the winner of the competition.
On October 29, 1923, the South American football Championship begins.
In the estadio Gran Parque Central in Montevideo, 20,000 spectators are present to attend the first match of the tournament, Argentina against the Paraguay. Unfortunate finalist at the [comp_annee:3*1922]South American Championship 1922, the Paraguay hope this time scroll in the streets of Asuncion as the winner. Meanwhile, the Argentina arrives revenge after a last edition finished a modest fourth place. The Uruguayan referee Angel Minoli gives the kickoff of the match, and Gerardo Rivas does only ten minutes to find the path of the nets. 1 0 for Paraguay, Blas Saruppo leaves no doubt settle and equalize eight minutes later. This match is gone drum beating. Players return to the locker room on this score 1-1 draw, and five minutes after the start of the second period, Agustín Zelada scores a second goal for the Paraguay. Vicente Aguirre restores hope to the Albiceleste eight minutes later, and it is the turn of Luis Fretes to give the advantage for the third time in the match to Paraguayans (75th). But decidedly Argentines have heart, and Vicente Aguirre sign a double two minutes later, before wrong a third time the goalkeeper Modesto Denis. Final score 4-3 to Argentina, tournament start!
Six days later, the host country make its debut in the competition against the Paraguay. The striker of Nacional Héctor Scarone opens the score at the 11th minute, the stadium celebration. The Paraguayans are in danger after already suffering a first defeat in this tournament, and they push to return to the score. The Uruguayan triple winner does not break, and two minutes before the final whistle, the young eighteen-year-old striker Pedro Petrone just score the second goal of the match for the Uruguayans. 2-0 victory for la Celeste, supporters greet with fervor this start of competition.
On 11 November, the defending Brazilian champion enters on the lawn, facing the Paraguay. Already the third and last match for the Paraguayans, who no longer have much hope in this tournament after two consecutive defeats. But the teammates of Modesto Denis have honor, and after a first half ended with a score of 0-0, Ildefonso López just fool the last rampart of Brazil at the 56th minute. More nothing happens until the end of the match, the Brazil is already high and will have to win its other two games to retain his title.
A week later, the Brazilians face the Argentina in a match that should not be lost. From the top of its twenty years, Cesáreo Onzari opens the score at the 11th minute. 1-0 for the Argentina, but the men of Angel Vasquez do not long before that Nilo doesn't equate to Brazil (15th). The match seems to be heading towards the sharing of issues, but Blas Saruppo does not want to leave it at that and sign his second goal of the competition (76th). Final whistle blow, 2-1 to Argentina, which takes the lead of the competition with two wins in two games and four points in the standings. With two consecutive defeats, the defending Brazilian champion is no longer only the shadow of himself a year after his coronation.
November 25, 20,000 spectators flock to the second match of the Uruguay face the Brazil. The men of the coach Leonardo De Lucca must absolutely win to join the Argentina in the first place, but the game does not give anything in the first period. 56th minute, Pedro Petrone opens the score for the Argentina, Nilo replied three minutes later. Always sharing points which does not arrange anything the business premises. Then José Pedro Cea force fate and gives the advantage to la Celeste at the 75th minute. This time, the Brazil cannot return to the score, and the Uruguay prevails over the score of 2-1. With zero point meter, Brazilians are leaving the low-head competition, the Uruguay has the same number of points as the Argentina and can afford a "final" in the last game for a fourth win in this South American Championship.
On 2 December, the estadio Gran Parque Central is full of 22,000 fans just waiting for that one thing, a victory of the Uruguay. Facing the host country, Argentina coach Angel Vasquez leaves itself step impress and enters the lawn the knife between the teeth. The trio of referees is Brazilian, and kick-off sounds. 28th minute, Pedro Petrone wrong Pedro Casella, 1-0 for the Uruguay. Jubilation in the stands, the half ends with this slight advantage. Argentines try all for all, and to expose more and more, and what had to happen happened, the forward of Nacional Pascual Somma permanently sealing the score at the 88th minute. Score final 2-0 to the Uruguay, joy is general in the aisles of the estadio Gran Parque Central, and the Uruguay wins for the fourth time in its history the South American football Championship.
With 3 goals scored in this competition, the forward of Argentine Vicente Aguirre and the Uruguayan striker Pedro Petrone are the top scorers of the South American football Championship 1923.
Uruguay, with this victory, qualified for the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924.
