Striker Diego Forlan bagged a brace as Uruguay produced their best form in a 4-1 demolition of hosts Venezuela in the Copa America quarter-finals.
Pablo Garcia and Cristian Rodriguez were also on target in the Pueblo Nuevo stadium, as Oscar Tabarez's side made light of their goalscoring troubles after only finding the back of the net once during the group stage.
Juan Arango replied for Venezuela, who fell apart in the last five minutes.
Uruguay had qualified as one of the best third-placed teams and scored only one goal in three matches in the group stages.
But they looked a different team on Saturday and went ahead in the 38th minute when a long ball from Maximiliano Pereira caught Venezuela's Alejandro Cichero out of position and fell into the path of Forlan.
The striker, who had had a miserable tournament before Saturday, broke clear and placed a low shot past Renny Vega for his 13th goal in 39 internationals.
Venezuela replied three minutes later when Arango's 25-metre free kick went through a gap in the Uruguay wall, taking a deflection on the way to leave Fabian Carini stranded.
Midfielder Pablo Garcia put Uruguay back in front in the 65th with a left-foot shot from 25 metres after Jorge Fucile backheeled the ball into his path, only his second goal for his country.
Rodriguez settled the game in the 87th minute when he received a pass from Forlan, held off his marker and scored with a low shot that went between goalkeeper Vega and the near post.
Forlan added a fourth in injury-time when he scored from a rebound.
