Copa America: Colombia outlasts Uruguay to reach final

Jefferson Lerma scored a header in the 39th minute, and Colombia outlasted Uruguay 1-0 during their Copa America semifinal on Wednesday night in front of 70,644 people at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

The Copa America 2024 final is set: Colombia will face Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the defending Copa America and World Cup champions, on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

Colombia extended its unbeaten streak to 28 games with the victory, inspired by James Rodríguez’s stellar corner kick to Lerma in the 39th minute for his sixth assist, the most of any player during this Copa America.

Colombia also overcame the challenge of playing down to 10 players, after defender Daniel Muñoz received his second yellow card, and a red card, for elbowing a Uruguayan player just before halftime.

Mateus Uribe missed two shots, one in the 85th minute and another in extra time, unable to connect on two open chances toward the net to score a second goal for Colombia, much to the gasping despair of Colombian fans wanting a knockout blow.

Lerma took a long shot toward an empty net in the final minutes, but the final whistle was blown shortly after his shot sailed over the net, sending Colombia to the final.

Uruguay failed to score in its last two matches during the tournament, needed a 4-2 penalty shootout to advance past Brazil in the quarterfinal.

Darwin Núñez missed four shots toward the net in the first half, while José Giménez was unable to deliver with two attempts in the second half for Uruguay.

Luis Suarez, Messi’s Inter Miami co-star and Uruguay's all-time leading scorer, entered as a substitute to play the final 30 minutes of the match. He fired a shot off the right post in the 71st minute. He also didn’t end his final international match without a fight. 

Suarez appeared to instigate a postgame incident when both teams approached midfield after the final whistle, causing a series of scuffles between players and coaches despite attempts to separate. 

Several Uruguayan players, including Nuñez, later entered the stands to fight with Colombian fans, further adding to an ugly scene during their Copa America semifinal. 

Uruguayan defender José María Giménez said some Colombian fans had become aggressive in the stands toward Uruguay team family members, some holding small children, after the match.

This is a disaster, our family was in danger,” Giménez said. “We had to get into the stands to get our loved ones out, with small newborn babies. There was not a single police officer … and we were there standing up for our own.”

Uruguay, tied with Argentina for the most Copa America titles at 15, won’t get a chance to compete with Argentina for another one.

Colombia has reached its third Copa America final (1975, 2001), and hopes to win its second title (2001).

Source: USA Today