Colombia advanced to the Copa America championship game for the first time in 23 years after securing a hard-fought victory over Uruguay, despite playing the second half with ten men and witnessing brawls involving fans and players post-match.
Jefferson Lerma scored in the 39th minute, leading Colombia to a 1-0 win on Wednesday night and setting up a final clash with Lionel Messi and defending champions Argentina on Sunday.
“Overcoming weaknesses is crucial for growth,” said Colombia coach Nester Lorenzo through an interpreter. “When you surmount obstacles, growth follows.”
Daniel Muñoz was sent off in first-half stoppage time for an elbow, earning his second yellow card. Despite Uruguay controlling 61.9% of possession, Colombia held firm to reach the championship match, their first since they won the title as hosts in 2001.
Colombia has extended its unbeaten run to a national record 28 games, surpassing their previous best from 1992-94, and currently holds the longest active streak in men’s international soccer.
“They are hungry and eager players who add many elements beyond tactics,” Lorenzo said.
The match, which saw seven yellow cards and one red, concluded with a melee on the pitch. Darwin Núñez and several Uruguay teammates entered the stands where fights had broken out among fans.
A video showed Núñez striking a fan wearing Colombian team colors.
CONMEBOL issued a statement denouncing the violence, emphasizing that soccer is meant to unify through positive values. The organization urged fans to show passion by supporting their teams peacefully in the remaining games.
Colombia and Argentina will contest the final at Miami Gardens, Florida. Argentina aims for a record-extending 16th Copa title and hopes to join Spain (2008-12) as the only nations to win three consecutive major tournaments.
Uruguay will face Canada in Saturday night’s third-place match in Charlotte.
In front of a predominantly pro-Colombia crowd of 70,644 donning yellow jerseys and flags at Bank of America Stadium, the game’s only goal came from James Rodríguez’s corner kick, which Lerma headed in, out-jumping José María Giménez. Lerma’s goal marked his third international and second of the tournament, while Rodríguez now has six assists, triple the number of any other player.
Muñoz’s first yellow card came in the 31st minute for a reckless slide tackle, and his second for elbowing Manuel Ugarte.
Rodríguez received a yellow card in the 55th minute for arguing with referee César Ramos after an incident where Richard Ríos was injured. Ríos was stretchered off, returned to play, and was eventually substituted in the 62nd minute along with Rodríguez to preserve his eligibility for the final.
Colombian goalkeeper Camilo Vargas made his first save in the 68th minute against Nicolás de la Cruz. Luis Suárez, Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer, came on in the 66th minute and hit the post in the 71st minute, visibly frustrated by the miss.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa rued missed opportunities, saying, “In moments we could have changed the game, we didn’t succeed. We should have created more goal opportunities.”
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe missed two significant chances, one late in the game and another in stoppage time that hit goalkeeper Sergio Rochet and then the crossbar. Uruguay even pushed Rochet forward in a desperate bid for a goal in the final minute.
The match was played in 90-degree heat on a surface that had been converted from artificial turf to grass in the weeks leading up to the game. NFL players from the Carolina Panthers, who share the stadium, have expressed frustration that soccer teams play on grass, citing increased injury risks from artificial turf.
With two matches remaining, the tournament’s attendance has reached 1.48 million, just 1,663 short of the total for the 2016 Copa America hosted in the United States.