Lionel Messi slammed Uruguay’s bully tactics following their crucial Copa America win.

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Sergio Aguero scored the game’s solitary goal – converting Pablo Zabaleta’s cross – in a bruising encounter that saw six yellow cards dished out and La Albiceleste coach Gerardo Martino being sent to the stands.

Man-of-the-match Messi blamed Oscar Tabarez’s men for the fratured nature of the game and claimed his teammates had been left with little choice but to fight fire with fire.

“Uruguay wanted to play hard with a lot of contact,” the Barcelona superstar said. “We demonstrated that we know how to play this way too, even if it is not the thing we want most.

“However, we tried to play at the same level during the whole game but Uruguay set out a very tight match. They did not want to play a lot.

“We tried to attack them from both flanks. They were expecting to recover the ball in order to play long. Luckily, we got Aguero’s goal and then we fought, as that was what the game was asking for.”

After blowing a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw with Paraguay in their tournament opener, victory against the reigning Copa America champions was pivotal.

However, the 2014 World Cup runners-up are now top of Group B going into their final game, against winless Jamaica who were beaten 1-0 by Paraguay.

“Our goal is the same now as when we arrived,” Messi added. “It was a pity the draw against Paraguay. We were leading 2-0 and we couldn’t win.

“However, now we’re where we wanted. We are on top and we get to rely on ourselves to qualify in the first position.”

Venezuela take on Peru tonight and goalkeeper Alain Baroja wants his team-mates to build on their shock win over Colombia as they look to secure a place in the knockout stage of the Copa America.

“We had the euphoria of the match against Colombia but now we have to think with a cool head,” the 25-year-old said. “It was good to start with three points and now we hope to continue scoring.”