Colombia have secured a berth within the Copa America championship sport for the primary time in 23 years, regardless of taking part in the second half with ten males and encountering post-game altercations with followers.
Jefferson Lerma’s Thirty ninth-minute objective sealed a dramatic 1-0 victory on Wednesday evening, establishing an exciting showdown in opposition to Lionel Messi’s Argentina, the defending champions, this Sunday.
“Until you overcome your weaknesses, you cannot grow,” Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo mentioned via an interpreter. “And when you overcome those obstacles, you can grow.”
Daniel Munoz was ejected in first-half stoppage time for an elbow that led to his second yellow card. Despite Uruguay holding 61.9% possession, Colombia held agency to succeed in the championship for the primary time since profitable its solely Copa title as host in 2001.
Colombia prolonged its unbeaten streak to a crew document 28 video games, yet another than from 1992-94 and the longest present streak in males’s worldwide soccer.
“They are very hungry as players and very eager, and they really add many elements to their game beyond the tactical side,” Lorenzo added.
In a match that included seven yellow playing cards along with the pink, gamers from each groups pushed and shoved in a scrum on the sphere on the last whistle. Darwin Núnez and a couple of dozen Uruguay teammates entered the stands as followers brawled.
A video confirmed Núnez putting a fan in Colombian crew colours.
CONMEBOL launched a press release after the sport condemning any act of violence that impacts the sport.
“Our work is based on the conviction that soccer connects and unites us through its positive values,” the group mentioned. “There is no place for intolerance and violence on and off the field. We invite everyone in the remaining days to pour all of their passion into cheering on their national teams and having an unforgettable party.”
Defending champions Argentina and Colombia will meet within the match finale at Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Albiceleste search a document sixteenth Copa title and goal to affix Spain (2008-12) as the one international locations to win three straight main championships.
Uruguay stays in Charlotte to face Canada in Saturday evening’s third-place match.
Before an overwhelmingly pro-Colombia crowd of 70,644 clad in yellow jerseys and flags, Uruguay fell behind for the primary time within the match.
James Rodriguez’s nook kick was headed in from brief vary by Lerma, who outjumped Jose Maria Gimenez for his third worldwide objective and second of the match. Rodriguez has six assists within the match — triple the whole of some other participant.
Munoz acquired his first yellow card from Mexican referee Cesar Ramos within the thirty first minute for a reckless slide sort out on Maximiliano Araújo and his second for elbowing Manuel Ugarte within the abdomen.
Rodriguez was cautioned within the fifty fifth minute for disputing with Ramos after the referee didn’t halt play when Richard Rios was kicked on the shin by Darwin Núnez.
Rios was taken off on a stretcher, re-entered the match, then went down in one other problem and was substituted within the 62nd minute. Rodriguez was additionally substituted on the identical time to take care of his eligibility for the ultimate.
Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas didn’t have to make his first save till he denied Nicolás de la Cruz within the 68th minute.
Luis Suárez, Uruguay’s profession chief with 68 targets, entered within the 66th minute and hit the surface of a put up with a shot within the 71st. He clutched his head in frustration.
“The moments in which we could unbalance the game, we did not succeed,” Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa mentioned. “We should have generated more goal situations than we did.”
Colombia’s Mateus Uribe, one other second-half substitute, missed an open shot huge within the 88th minute, and Uribe’s open shot within the fourth minute of stoppage time struck the physique of sliding goalkeeper Sergio Rochet after which the crossbar.
Uruguay moved Rochet as much as the attacking half of the sphere within the last minute, determined for a objective.
The match was performed in 90-degree warmth on a floor transformed from synthetic turf to grass within the weeks earlier than the sport.
Players from the NFL’s Carolina Panthers have been vocal about soccer groups having fun with the privilege of taking part in on grass at their dwelling floor. Players argue that NFL video games on synthetic turf go away them extra susceptible to accidents.
With two video games left, attendance of 1.48 million is simply 1,663 shy of the whole for the 2016 match within the United States.
Source: www.dailysabah.com