Colombia secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uruguay in the Copa America 2024 semifinals, advancing to their third final in history.

The decisive goal came from Jefferson Lerma’s header off a corner by James Rodriguez in the 39th minute, amidst an electrifying atmosphere at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, witnessed by over 70,000 fervent fans.

Rollercoaster win for Colombia in Copa Semifinal

The match was not without its controversies and tensions.

Colombia’s Daniel Muoz received a red card just before halftime, reducing his team to ten men for the remainder of the game.

With tonight’s assist via corner kick, James Rodriguez became the first South American player to record six assists in a major tournament since Pel did it for Brazil at the 1970 World Cup.

Despite Uruguay’s relentless efforts in the second half, including several near misses by Darwin Nuez and Luis Suarez, they failed to breach Colombia’s defense.

Suarez is Uruguay’s all-time leading scorer with 68 goals.

From Colombia’s side, Mateus Uribe, was on the verge of scoring Colombia’s second goal of the night with a shot that hit the goalkeeper and the post four minutes into stoppage time.

Post-match, emotions boiled over as players from both sides clashed on the pitch.

The brawl went even further with some Uruguay players, including star Darwin Nuez, even venturing into the stands to confront fans.

Colombia set for epic final against Argentina

Colombia’s path to the final has been remarkable, extending their unbeaten streak to a national record 28 games.

They now prepare to face Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, in what promises to be an epic showdown at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Sunday.

Argentina secured their place in the final with a 2-0 victory over Canada in the first semifinal, setting the stage for a clash between two South American giants vying for continental glory.

The final is anticipated to draw immense interest from football enthusiasts worldwide, eager to witness the outcome of this prestigious tournament.