James Rodríguez served up his sixth help of the match to assist 10-man Colombia beat Uruguay 1-0 in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Wednesday to arrange a Copa América closing towards Argentina, earlier than the night time descended into chaos as gamers clashed with followers.
Argentina beat Canada 2-0 within the first semifinal on Tuesday to guide their place in Sunday’s closing in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Victory for Colombia on Wednesday meant they prolonged their unbeaten run to a team-record 28 video games, relationship again to a loss to Argentina in February 2022.
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 closing whistle. Darwin Núñez and a couple of dozen Uruguay teammates then went into the stands as followers brawled. A video confirmed Núñez hitting a fan in Colombian group colors.
Jefferson Lerma scored the one purpose in entrance of a fervent and overwhelmingly pro-Colombia crowd of 70,644 at Financial institution of America Stadium when he headed in a deep nook from James within the thirty ninth minute.
James turns into the primary South American participant with six assists at a single main match since Pelé for Brazil on the 1970 World Cup.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Colombia’s job of sustaining their benefit was difficult when defender Daniel Muñoz was despatched off in first-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card for swinging an elbow at Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte. Muñoz acquired his first yellow card from Mexican referee César Ramos within the thirty first minute for a reckless slide deal with on Maximiliano Araújo.
Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez didn’t make the most of a number of first-half alternatives, with Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas not having to make his first save till he stopped Nicolás de la Cruz’s try within the 68th minute.
Substitute Luis Suárez, Uruguay’s profession chief with 68 targets, hit the surface of a put up with a shot within the 71st as Uruguay struggled to discover a breakthrough towards the ten males.
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe, one other second-half sub, put an open shot large within the 88th, and Uribe’s open shot within the fourth minute of stoppage time ricocheted off the physique of sliding goalkeeper Sergio Rochet then the crossbar.
However one purpose proved sufficient for Colombia to succeed in their third Copa América closing and first since successful their solely title as hosts in 2001.
After the sport, movies confirmed Uruguay gamers wading into the stands to change blows with Colombia followers as police personnel tried to maintain the 2 sides aside.
Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez mentioned the gamers had been making an attempt to defend their households.
“Let me say one thing earlier than they reduce you off as a result of they will not allow us to converse into the microphone, they do not need me to say something about what is going on on however it is a catastrophe,” Gimenez mentioned on the official broadcast. “Please watch out, our households are within the stands, there are little new child infants. It was a catastrophe; there was no police and we needed to defend our households.
Argentina are searching for a report sixteenth Copa América title and seeking to be a part of Spain as the one international locations to win three straight main titles.
Wednesday’s match was performed in 90-degree warmth on a floor that was transformed from synthetic turf to grass within the weeks main as much as the competition.
Uruguay will face Canada within the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Data from The Related Press contributed to this report.