Argentina gained their second consecutive Copa America title with an exhilarating 1-0 victory over Colombia, regardless of Lionel Messi’s second-half leg damage.
Lautaro Martinez sealed the win with a decisive purpose within the 112th minute Sunday night time.
Messi appeared to maintain a non-contact damage whereas operating and falling within the sixty fourth minute and lined his face together with his palms as he sat on the bench and sobbed.
Martinez later ran to that bench to hug his captain after the purpose that propelled La Albiceleste to their file sixteenth Copa title.
In a match that began 1 hour, 22 minutes late due to crowd bother at Hard Rock Stadium, Argentina gained their third straight main title following the 2021 Copa America and 2022 World Cup and matched Spain, who gained the 2008 and 2012 European Championships across the 2010 World Cup.
Argentina additionally stopped Colombia’s 28-game unbeaten streak courting to a February 2022 loss to the Albiceleste.
Martinez entered within the 97th minute and scored from Giovani Lo Celso’s good via go.
Just contained in the penalty space, Martinez despatched a right-foot shot via the upraised arms of sliding goalkeeper Camilo Vargas for his twenty ninth worldwide purpose, his tournament-high fifth.
Soccer Football – Copa America 2024 – Final – Argentina v Colombia on the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, Florida, U.S., July 14, 2024. (Reuters Photo)
Making his thirty ninth and probably final Copa America look at age 37, Messi had one purpose within the event.
He went down after an ankle was stepped on within the first half however remained within the recreation.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner seemed to the bench as quickly as he fell to the sphere within the second half, showing to know his event was over.
He took off his proper boot as he walked off and slammed it in frustration, and his ankle appeared to swell.
The begin was delayed from 8 p.m. EDT to 9:22 p.m. due to crowd management points exterior the stadium, together with troves of followers breaching safety gates at a venue for use for the 2026 World Cup.
Days after Uruguay gamers had been concerned in a brawl with Colombia followers following their semifinal match in Charlotte, North Carolina, video confirmed followers climbing fences and railings to get contained in the championship match, with officers unable to maintain observe of who had bought tickets and who did not.
Colombia had been extra aggressive and compelled goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to make 4 saves within the first half, however Argentina started to threaten extra within the second.
Nicolas Tagliafico thought he scored within the seventy fifth minute however was dominated offside. Nicolas Gonzalez, who changed Messi, was stopped by Vargas within the ninety fifth minute.
Numerous gamers misplaced their footing through the second half of Sunday’s match.
The grass was closely watered with sprinklers following the halftime efficiency by Colombian pop star Shakira, which brought on an prolonged halftime break.
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