- Colombia defeats Uruguay 1-0 to advance to the Final.
- Uruguay will play Canada in the third place match on July 13 at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Highlights
- Colombia’s Captain James Rodriguez broke Lionel Messi’s assist record, recording his sixth in a single edition
- Los Cafeteros went down to 10 men, but battled relentlessly to keep Uruguay off the scoresheet, and earned a trip to the Grand Final.
Match summary
In one of the most anticipated matchups you’ll find at an international tournament, Los Cafeteros and La Celeste met in Charlotte, North Carolina to determine who would meet Argentina in the CONMEBOL Copa América 2024™ Grand FInal.
Colombia and Uruguay had demonstrated in their matches leading up to this decisive knockout match that they were two of the best teams in the tournament. Los Cafeteros, the highest scoring team in the tournament, La Celeste the second highest scoring team. Uruguay, tied as the team with the best defensive record, Colombia, tied for the second best defensive record.
As Marcelo Bielsa and Nestor Lorenzo’s teams stepped onto the pitch on a sunny North Carolina afternoon, they were all too aware one would be leaving with a ticket punched to the final, the other left to fight for third place against Canada.
Bank of America Stadium was rocking from the get go. The crowd was bursting with noise and passion, engulfing the players sprinting around on the pitch. The first 10 minutes felt like two juggernauts trying to feel each other out, with only one shot between the two. Colombia seemed to be the most likely to create the first big chance of the game, but instead that fell to Uruguay. La Celeste striker Darwin Nunez fought off multiple Colombian defenders in Los Cafeteros’ penalty area and the Liverpool striker struck a powerful driven shot to the bottom left corner, but it went just wide.
Chances continued to fall to the Uruguayan striker's feet, but a goal eluded him. Additionally, a Uruguayan team that has dealt with a big injury in their last match against Brazil, losing center back Ronald Araujo, then lost Rodrigo Bentancur to injury in the 35’. Guillermo Varela entered the match for the midfield, which marked a shift in Uruguay’s tactics, switching from a back three to a back four.
Colombia finally broke through in the 40’ using the same formula that had gotten them this far. James Rodriguez + set piece + great delivery + headed goal. The noise in Bank of America Stadium rose to a roar when Rodriguez’s whipped corner kick met the head of Jefferson Lerma and was thumped into Rochet’s near post. A beautiful moment for Colombia’s Captain, who in that moment broke Lionel Messi’s record for the most assists in a single edition of the tournament, with his sixth helping his country take the lead in the Semifinal.
The match changed again in the 45’ when Daniel Munoz, who was already on a yellow, received a second, and Los Cafeteros went down to 10 men right before halftime. A cinematic first half ended with everything to play for in the second, as Bielsa and Nestor’s teams marched back down the tunnel.
With 70,6444 in attendance eager to see who would advance, the game restarted under a Charlotte sunset. It was a predictably tense affair, with the passion and intensity increasingly rising. Predictably, Uruguay had more of the possession while Colombia fell back into a defensive structure, attempting to see out the result and hit on the counter when they could.
White and yellow jerseys flew up and down the field, and as the match reached the 70’ minute the game became even more stretched. Uruguayan legend Luis Suarez, who joined the game as a substitute had a beautiful chance at the top of the box but his effort clipped the side of the post.
With Uruguay chasing a goal for a spot in the final, the frenzy on the field and in the crowd started to reach a fever pitch. La Celeste’s attack was met with a yellow wall defending the Colombia penalty box, especially when Los Cafeteros switched to five at the back. The defenders for Los Cafeteros kept launching clearances for winger Luis Diaz to relentlessly chase down, providing a much needed outlet. A wonderful chance came for Colombia after a mistake at the back for La Celeste in the 87’ with Mateus Uribe finding himself one on one with Rochet, but the substitute pulled it wide.
With seven minutes of stoppage time, in the 4th added minute, Uribe gets another brilliant chance with Rochet one on one but the International goalkeeper made a game saving block to deflect the shot off the top bar. Uruguay survived to fight for three more minutes. In the end, Rochet flew forward, Uruguay had one last gasp, but that too was blocked by a Colombian defender.
Los Cafeteros emerged victorious, winning 1-0 as the final whistle blew, and it was bedlam for Colombia and heartbreak for Bielsa and Uruguay. Nestor Lorenzo’s team, a squad with now a 28 game unbeaten streak, destined to meet the defending champions Argentina in the Grand Final. Captains James Rodriguez and Lionel Messi battling for another trophy at the end of their careers. The stage is set at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
What’s next?
Colombia is headed to Miami Gardens to play Argentina in the Grand Final at Hard Rock Stadium on July 14 while Uruguay will stay in Charlotte to play Canada at Bank of America Stadium on July 13 to determine third place.
Lineups:
Colombia: Vargas; Mojica, Cuesta, Sanchez, Munoz; Lerma; Rios, Arias; Diaz, Cordoba, Rodriguez
Used substitutes: Arias, Uribe, Castano, Mina, Sinisterra
Cards: Munoz (Yellow, Red), Rodriguez (Yellow), Castano (Yellow), Cuesta (Yellow)
Coach: Nestor Lorenzo
Uruguay: Rochet; Caceres, Gimenez, Olivera; Ugarte, Valverde, Bentancur; De La Cruz; Pellistri, Nunez, Araujo
Used substitutes: Varela, Olivera, De Arrascaeta, Suarez, Canobbio
Cards: De La Cruz (Yellow), Varela (Yellow), Gimenez (Yellow)
Coach: Marcelo Bielsa
Goals: 39’, Jefferson Lerma (COL)
Superior Player of the Match Michelob ULTRA: James Rodriguez
Referee: Cesar Ramos (Mexico)
Venue: Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, North Carolina (USA)
