Jefferson Lerma headed in James Rodriguez’s nook kick late within the first half and 10-man Colombia held on to achieve its first Copa America last in 23 years with a 1-0 victory over Uruguay on Wednesday in Charlotte.
Colombia was significantly the higher crew for the opening 45 minutes, solely to be compelled to carry on after Daniel Munoz obtained his second reserving for an elbow thrown into Manuel Ugarte’s torso in first-half stoppage time.
Los Cafeteros set a nationwide report by finishing a twenty eighth consecutive match with out defeat, pushed on by means of the second half by a considerably pro-Colombian crowd of greater than 70,000. Colombia advances to face defending champion Argentina in Miami Gardens, Fla., within the last on Sunday evening.
Rodriguez now has six assists, probably the most in a single Copa America for the reason that stat was first stored in 2011. The 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner will attempt to ship his nation its second-ever Copa America title after it hosted and gained the 2001 occasion.
Uruguay will stay in Charlotte to face Canada in Saturday’s third-place match, in what will likely be La Celeste’s finest end on the event since successful the 2011 title.
After successful all three of its group-stage video games, Uruguay didn’t rating in both of its knockout-phase matches, ending influential supervisor Marcelo Bielsa’s newest bid at a primary main title in worldwide play.
Lerma put Colombia in entrance within the thirty ninth minute after Rodriguez delivered the newest in a event filled with completely struck set items.
This one got here from a nook dropped onto Lerma’s head on the again submit. Lerma outjumped Jose Maria Gimenez to ship his header downward, narrowly contained in the left submit earlier than Uruguay goalkeeper Sergio Rochet might react.
An awesome begin for Los Cafeteros grew to become much more difficult seven minutes later when Munoz rightly obtained his second warning from referee Cesar Ramos.
Uruguay all-time main scorer Luis Suarez entered within the 67th minute and instantly made his presence felt within the 71st, placing the skin of the appropriate submit with a shot from simply contained in the penalty space.
Nevertheless, the insertion of middle again Yerry Mina and swap to a five-man again line by Colombia supervisor Nestor Lorenzo helped restrict Uruguay from there.
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe missed the sport’s two finest late possibilities, dragging an 88th-minute alternative low and broad of the left submit and seeing one other effort in stoppage time deflect off a charging Rochet after which the crossbar.
–Area Degree Media
