Colombia’s Jefferson Lerma, left, shoots as Uruguay’s Sebastian Caceres defends throughout a Copa America semifinal soccer match in Charlotte, N.C., on July 10, 2024.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Jefferson Lerma scored within the thirty ninth minute, and Colombia performed a person quick your complete second half in a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Wednesday evening to succeed in the Copa America remaining in opposition to Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Daniel Muñoz was ejected in first-half stoppage time for his second yellow card, however Colombia held on to succeed in the championship for the primary time since profitable its solely Copa title as host in 2001. Colombia prolonged its unbeaten streak to a group report 28 video games, another than from 1992-94 and the longest present streak in males’s soccer.
In a contentious match that included seven yellow playing cards and one purple, gamers from each groups pushed and shoved in a scrum on the sector on the remaining whistle and a few gamers went into the stands to scrap with followers.
Defending champion Argentina and Colombia meet Sunday evening at Miami Gardens, Florida.
Earlier than an overwhelmingly pro-Colombia crowd at Financial institution of America Stadium, full of yellow jerseys and flags, Uruguay fell behind for the primary time within the match.
James Rodríguez’s nook kick was headed in from quick vary by Lerma, who outjumped José María Giménez for his third worldwide purpose and second of the match. Rodríguez has six assists within the match — triple the full of some other participant.
Muñoz obtained his first yellow card from Mexican referee César Ramos within the thirty first minute for a reckless slide sort out on Maximiliano Araújo and his second for elbowing Manuel Ugarte within the abdomen.
Rodríguez was given a yellow card within the fifty fifth minute for arguing with Ramos when the referee did not cease play when Richard Ríos was kicked on a shin by Darwin Núñez.
Ríos was eliminated on a stretcher, re-entered the match, then went down in one other problem and was substituted within the 62nd minute. Rodríguez was eliminated on the identical time to maintain him eligible for the ultimate.
Colombia goalkeeper Federico Valverde didn’t need to make his first save till he stopped Nicolás de la Cruz within the 68th minute.
Luis Suárez, Uruguay’s profession chief with 68 targets, entered within the 66th minute and hit the skin of a submit with a shot within the 71st.
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe, one other second-half sub, put an open shot huge within the 88th, and Uribe’s open shot within the fourth minute of stoppage time ricocheted off the physique of sliding goalkeeper Sergio Rochet after which the crossbar.
The match was performed in 90-degree warmth on a floor that was transformed from synthetic turf to grass within the weeks main up the sport.
Argentina is searching for a report sixteenth Copa America title and is seeking to be part of Spain as the one international locations to win three straight main titles.
