Colombia, with 10 Men, Beat Uruguay 1-0… Copa final with Argentina
Colombia overcomes Munoz's 'sending off' disaster, advances to finals for the first time in 23 years, 28 consecutive A-match undefeated streak 'highest rise'
Colombia, overcoming its numerical disadvantage, defeated its formidable rival Uruguay and earned a chance to reclaim the Copa America (South American Football Championship) title for the first time in 23 years.
On the 11th (Korean time), in the 2024 Copa America semifinals held at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, Colombia overcame the misfortune of Daniel Muñoz being sent off in extra time of the first half following a header by Jefferson Lerma in the 39th minute of the first half and won 1-0 over Uruguay.
Colombia, the 2001 champion, will challenge for its first title in 23 years against Argentina, tied for the most wins (15) at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on the 15th. 안전놀이터
With this win, Colombia continues its 28-match unbeaten streak (22 wins, 6 draws) since losing 0-1 to Argentina in the 2022 Qatar World Cup qualifiers held in February 2022.
On the other hand, Uruguay, which has won the Copa America 15 times, missed the opportunity to win its first title in 13 years and set a new record for the most wins.
Uruguay will play Canada for 3rd and 4th place on the 14th at Bank of America Stadium, where the disappointment of the loss to Colombia still lingers.
Colombia and Uruguay clashed fiercely right after the kickoff of the first half, exchanging attacks and backlashes.
When Colombia opened the attack with a header from Muñoz in the 14th minute of the first half, Uruguay responded with a threatening left-footed shot from striker Darwin Nunez in the 17th minute of the first half.
Colombia, who had been pushed back by Uruguay's offensive for a while, ran away with the first goal in the 39th minute of the first half.
Central midfielder Jefferson Lerma headed the ball into the net from the left side of the goal area after James Rodriguez kicked a right corner kick.
Rodriguez, who was the top scorer at the 2014 Brazil World Cup, recorded his 6th assist in this tournament alone, breaking the record for the most assists in a single tournament (5) set by Lionel Messi (Argentina) in the 2021 tournament.
Rodriguez, who had two assists in the first match of the group stage against Paraguay (2-1 win), followed up with one assist in the second match of the group stage against Costa Rica (3-0 win) and two assists in the quarterfinals against Panama (5-0 win), equaling Lionel Messi's record, and then set a new record by assisting Lerma's header on this day.
Colombia scored first, but faced an unexpected red card just before the end of the first half.
Right fullback Munoz, who was engaged in a war of nerves with an opposing player, was caught on TV screens elbowing him.
Munoz, who had already received a yellow card for a violent tackle in the 31st minute of the first half, received a second yellow card and was sent off for his second yellow card.
Uruguay, who finished the first half trailing 0-1, fiercely attacked Colombia, who had been reduced to 10 men, starting the second half.
Uruguay Coach Marcelo Bielsa increased the pressure by sending in strikers one after another, and even sent in veteran striker Luis Suarez, who had been used as a substitute in the latter half, in the 22nd minute of the second half to try to score an equalizer.
Suarez attempted a powerful right-footed shot from the front of the penalty area after receiving a pass from Federico Valverde in the 26th minute of the second half, but hit the right goalpost, missing a crucial scoring opportunity.
Colombia responded to Uruguay's last-minute offensive with a counterattack, preventing them from conceding a goal and securing their ticket to the final.