CHARLOTTE, North Carolina- Colombian soccer player James Rodríguez delivered his sixth assist of the tournament, propelling his team to a 1-0 victory against Uruguay on Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina. The win secured Colombia a spot in the Copa América final against Argentina in Miami Gardens, Florida. The night turned chaotic after the match ended, with players and fans engaging in altercations.
Argentina had previously defeated Canada 2-0 in the semifinals on Tuesday, securing their place in the final. Colombia’s victory extended their unbeaten streak to 28 games, a team record dating back to February 2022 when they suffered a loss to Argentina.
The high-intensity match resulted in seven yellow cards and one red card being handed out. After the final whistle, players from both teams engaged in a physical confrontation on the field. The situation escalated as Uruguay’s Darwin Núñez and several teammates entered the stands, where a brawl ensued with Colombian fans. Videos captured Núñez striking a fan wearing Colombian team colors.
The lone goal of the match came from Jefferson Lerma, who scored for Colombia in the 39th minute off an assist from James Rodríguez. Rodríguez made history by becoming the first South American player to deliver six assists in a single major tournament since Pelé achieved the same feat for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup.
Despite being reduced to 10 men after defender Daniel Muñoz was sent off in the first half, Colombia managed to maintain their lead. Uruguay’s opportunities to equalize were thwarted, with Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez failing to capitalize on chances and Colombia’s goalkeeper Camilo Vargas making crucial saves.
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe and Luis Suárez of Uruguay missed scoring opportunities as the tension continued to rise throughout the match. The victory secured Colombia a spot in their third Copa América final and their first since winning the tournament as hosts in 2001.
Following the game, Uruguay players were seen engaging in physical altercations with Colombian fans in the stands. Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez mentioned that the players felt compelled to defend their families amidst the chaos. The match, which was played under scorching 90-degree heat, took place on a newly converted grass surface. Uruguay will now face Canada in the third-place playoff match on Saturday.
Argentina, aiming for their 16th Copa América title, seeks to become the second country after Spain to win three consecutive major titles. The final between Colombia and Argentina promises to be a highly anticipated showdown between two formidable teams.