Colombia survived the second half with a numerical disadvantage and, thanks to another assist from James Rodríguez, reached the Copa América final after beating Uruguay 1-0 on Wednesday.
Yefferson Lerma’s header in the 39th minute was enough for Colombia to extend its streak of consecutive games without losing to 29, a record in the history of the Colombian national team.
¡𝐹𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝑁𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐿𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑇𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆𝑆! 💛💛💙❤️
After 9 months we are here 𝑫𝑜𝑢 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏 …�𝑟𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 �#TodosSomosColombia 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/ECOmUMOBNk
— Colombian National Team (@FCFSeleccionCol) July 11, 2024
Colombia held on with 10 men after right-back Daniel Muñoz was sent off in first-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card.
Nestor Lorenzo’s team will face defending champion Argentina in the title match in Miami on Sunday.
COLOMBIA QUALIFIES FOR THE FINAL 🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/vQ8230YDJk
— CONMEBOL Copa America™️ (@CopaAmerica) July 11, 2024
This will be only the second time Colombia has played in the continental tournament. They were crowned champions on the only occasion they did so, as hosts in the 2001 edition, beating Mexico.
Colombia have not lost since February 1, 2022, a 1-0 setback against Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers that the Albiceleste ended up winning at the end of that year. Lautaro Martínez was the scorer of the goal in that match, in which Lionel Messi did not play.
In a thrilling match in Charlotte, James’ corner from the right found the head of Lerma, who beat Jose Maria Gimenez, plus the weak exit of goalkeeper Sergio Rochet for the 1-0.
Colombia came close to scoring a second goal shortly after with a shot from Richard Ríos, which was repelled by Rochet’s flight.
It was a moment of great confusion for Uruguay, and everything indicated that Colombia’s second goal was imminent.
But the situation changed radically when Muñoz was sent off after elbowing Manuel Ugarte, earning him a second yellow card after a VAR review.
Colombia had to defend their minimal advantage in the second half, a task that became more complicated due to Richard Ríos’ injury and having to take off James.
Colombia played most of the match with ten players after the right back was sent off.
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