Colombia secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Uruguay in the Copa América semifinal at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 10, 2024. The win propels Colombia to its first Copa América final in 23 years, where they will face Argentina on July 15 in Miami.Jefferson Lerma scored the decisive goal for Colombia in the 38th minute. Despite playing with 10 men for the entire second half after Daniel Muñoz received his second yellow card, Colombia’s defense managed to stifle Uruguay’s offense and maintain their lead.However, the match’s conclusion was overshadowed by a violent incident involving players and fans. After the final whistle, several Uruguayan players, including Darwin Núñez and Ronald Araujo, clashed with Colombian fans in the stands. The brawl, which lasted over 10 minutes before police intervention, was reportedly sparked by provocations and insults directed at the players’ families.Uruguayan defender José María Giménez explained, “Our loved ones were targeted by people who only drank during the game. They were in danger and we had to intervene”. Videos circulating on social media show punches being thrown and objects being hurled between players and fans.The South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has condemned the violence and launched an investigation into the incident. The altercation could potentially result in suspensions for players like Núñez and Araujo, which might impact their participation in upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.Despite the chaotic ending, Colombia’s victory marks a significant achievement. James Rodríguez, overcome with emotion, stated, “I’ve been wanting this for 13 years… We wrote history tonight”. Colombia will now seek its second Copa América title, with their first won 23 years ago.Uruguay, meanwhile, will face Canada in the third-place playoff on July 14. The final between Colombia and Argentina is scheduled for July 15 in Miami.
Key points
- Colombia defeated Uruguay 1-0 in the Copa América semifinal, advancing to face Argentina in the final.
- The match ended in violence, with Uruguayan players clashing with Colombian fans in the stands.
- CONMEBOL has launched an investigation into the post-match incident, which could result in player suspensions.
- Colombia will play in its first Copa América final in 23 years, seeking its second title.
Contradictions👾There are slight discrepancies in the reported timing of Jefferson Lerma’s goal, with some sources stating the 38th minute and others the 39th minute.
👾The duration of the post-match brawl is reported as ‘over 10 minutes’ in one source, while others do not specify a duration.
