Colombia secured a place in the Copa América final by defeating Uruguay 1-0 in Charlotte, North Carolina, despite playing with 10 men for the entire second half. James Rodríguez provided his sixth assist of the tournament, helping Jefferson Lerma score the winning goal in the 39th minute. This victory extends Colombia’s unbeaten streak to a national record of 28 games.
The match, which saw seven yellow cards and one red, was marked by intense physicality and controversy. Colombian defender Daniel Muñoz was sent off in first-half stoppage time after receiving a second yellow card. Despite being a man down, Colombia’s defense held strong, with Uruguay’s Darwin Núñez and Luis Suárez failing to capitalize on several opportunities.
The game ended in chaos as Uruguayan players clashed with Colombian fans in the stands. Videos showed Darwin Núñez and his teammates confronting fans, with Núñez seen hitting a fan in Colombian colors. Uruguay captain Jose Maria Gimenez later stated that the players were defending their families in the stands.
Colombia will face Argentina, who beat Canada 2-0 in the other semifinal, in the final on Sunday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Uruguay will play against Canada in the third-place playoff on Saturday.
Argentina is aiming for a record 16th Copa América title and seeks to join Spain as the only countries to win three consecutive major titles.
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