Copa Anerica: Ten-man Colombia defeat Uruguay 1-0
For the first time in 23 years, Colombia is heading to a final.
10-man Colombia held on for the entire second half to knock off Uruguay, 1-0, in the Copa America semifinals at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. With the win, Los Cafeteros advance to the final on Sunday where they’ll face Lionel Messi and Argentina.
Jefferson Lerma’s first half header off a corner, from a great cross by James Rodriguez, was the difference in the game that had just about everything.
Moments before the halftime whistle, Colombia right back Daniel Munoz was goaded into a reaction and he elbowed Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte in the chest. That earned Munoz a straight red card and an early bath, forcing Colombia to defend the rest of the match.
It didn’t matter.
It seemed like every decision Colombia coach Nestor Lorenzo made worked like a charm, as Colombia stifled Uruguay’s attack. When Colombia won the ball, they relieved pressure by moving the ball up the field quickly, winning free kicks or at least letting the Colombia backline move up. Colombia’s Camilo Vargas did make two saves, and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez hit the post in the second half.
But by the end, it was Colombia that was growing more into the game and Uruguay who looked out of answers moving forward, as the five-man Colombia backline played shutdown defense in the final 20 minutes.
The match was marred following the final whistle as multiple Uruguay players, including Nunez, jumped into the stands and got involved in an ongoing fracas between security, Uruguay fans, and Colombia fans.
