Playing shorthanded for more than half a half, Colombia defeated Uruguay 1-0 in a tense Copa América semi-final on Wednesday night, which ended with a post-match brawl on the pitch and a brawl in the stands.
With the victory, Colombia advances to their first Copa América final and second since winning the championship in 2001. There, they will face a tough task against Lionel Messi and reigning World Cup champions Argentina, who have crossed their halfway mark from the field while allowing a single goal in five games.
Colombia and Argentina will face off on Sunday night (8 p.m. ET, Fox/Univision) in Miami.
Strong support for Colombia in the stands
Wednesday’s semifinal was played in Charlotte, but could very well have been hosted in Bogotá. The stands at Bank of America Stadium were packed with fans wearing yellow Colombia gear. Colombia delivered for the fans in a tough game that saw six yellow cards and one red card expulsion before post-match exchanges.
Colombia entered Wednesday’s match as the tournament’s highest-scoring team (11 goals) following a 5-0 quarter-final victory over Panama. He scored first from a corner kick in the 38th minute. James Rodríguez sent it to the post from a corner kick, and Jefferson Lerma jumped high and passed the ball between the post and goalkeeper Sergio Rochet.
The goal was only the second allowed by Uruguay in the entire tournament.
Colombia’s defense, in turn, stifled Uruguay’s attack, which had scored nine goals in four previous Copa América games. Uruguay did not hit any of its four shots on goal in the first half.
Expulsion puts pressure on Colombia again
The tide threatened to change late in the second half. Colombia’s Daniel Muñoz, who was booked early in the half after a tackle, received his second yellow just before half-time. After a fight following a foul on Colombian Davinson Sánchez, Uruguayan Manuel Ugarte grabbed Muñoz’s shirt from behind.
Muñoz responded with an elbow to the chest that knocked Ugarte to the pitch, receiving his second yellow card and, finally, a red card that led to his expulsion.
Coach Néstor Lorenzo protested to no avail. Muñoz was sent off and Colombia were set to play the second half with one man down.
Uruguay’s attack improved a lot after the break, as they controlled the ball and took two of their seven shots on goal. But it didn’t convert on the scoreboard and Colombia held on for the victory.
Post-game violence on the field, in the stands
The tension that marked the entire game continued after the final whistle. The players exchanged shoves and blows in midfield shortly after the game.
The fight ended up being calmed down on the field, but extended to the stands, where Uruguayan players, including Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez, exchanged blows and shoves with Colombian fans. Fans were seen throwing drinks at players, while Núñez advanced into the stands and fought with fans.
José Maria Giménez, from Uruguay said the broadcast after the game that the players were defending their families from a group of Colombian fans that surrounded them. He called for changes in organization and security.
José Maria Gimenez spoke to the broadcast and stated that the players’ families were attacked by a group of Colombian fans. He mentioned that whoever organized this event needs to make changes. Gimenez emphasized that this is a security problem for Uruguayan families…
-Favian Renkel (@FavianRenkel) July 11, 2024
The consequences of the postgame brawl were not immediately clear. Uruguay is set to face Canada in a third-place match on Saturday in Charlotte.
