Uruguay soccerers and Colombia supporters fight in the aftermath of Copa America semifinal

Darwin Nunez and about a dozen Uruguay teammates walked up to the stands, while fans fought. The video shows Nunez striking a fan dressed in Colombian team colors.

By Associated Press

Jul 11, 2024 02:58 AM

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP – Steve Reed) – Jefferson Lerma scored in the 39th minute and Colombia was a man down during the second half to secure the 1-0 victory in the Copa America final against Uruguay last night. This allowed Colombia to make it to the Copa America final against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Daniel Munoz was kicked out in the first quarter of the game’s end-of-game timing after receiving his second yellow card, however, Colombia was able to keep the momentum and take victory in the finals for the first time since securing only the Copa title as hosts in the year the year 2001. Colombia continued its unbeaten streak for a record-setting 28 times that is one more than the 1992-94 season and is the longest current streak in the international men’s game.

In a tense game that saw seven yellow and one red players, the players from both teams forced and pushed each other into a row on the field prior to the final whistle. Darwin Nunez along with a few dozen Uruguay players were present in the stands as fans engaged in a fight. A video of the game shows Nunez hitting a fan in Colombian team colors.

Champions in the replay Argentina and Colombia will face Colombia on Sunday evening in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Albiceleste hope to secure an unheard-of sixteenth Copa triumph and are hoping to be joined by Spain in the years 2008-2012 being the sole nation to win three major championships in succession.

Uruguay is still in Charlotte to face Canada in the evening of Saturday in the third place game.

In the face of a huge Uruguayan fan base of 70,644 that filled Bank of America Stadium with flags and yellow jerseys Uruguay was defeated in the tournament only for two times in the competition.

James Rodriguez’s shot coming from an angle was kicked towards the right from a short distance by Lerma who jumped above Jose Maria Gimenez for his third international goal and second goal in the tournament. Rodriguez has recorded six assists in the tournament – all other players.

Munoz was given his first time a yellow card from Mexican Official Cesar Ramos near the end of the 31st minute of the match, for an unwise slide tackle on Maximiliano Araujo. He was also given a second yellow card after hitting Manuel Ugarte in the stomach.

Rodriguez was dismissed with a yellow card during the 55th minute following a fight in the 55th minute with Ramos when the official failed to stop the game following Richard Rios was kicked on the shin by Darwin Nunez.

Rios was removed on a stretcher before returning to the match, but suffered a fall in a subsequent attack that forced the substitution of Rodriguez after the 62 minute. Rodriguez was taken off the field to make sure he was fit enough to play during the final.

Colombia goalie Camilo Vargas was not even given the chance to make his first save, but he was stopped by Nicolas de la Cruz in the 68th minute.

Luis Suarez, Uruguay’s highest scorer in the history of soccer with 68 goals, was in the 66th minutes of the game and smashed into the goalpost’s side when he kicked it in the 70th minute. He put his head on his hands, screaming in fury.

Colombia’s Mateus Uribe, substituted in the second half, smashed an open shot on the crossbar during the game’s 88th minute. Uribe’s open shot in the stoppage-time in the 4th minute ricocheted off the body of goalkeeper Sergio Rochet and then the crossbar.

Uruguay was in a position to move Rochet across the field in the final minute, and aiming at the goal.

This game took place in 90 degree temperatures on a surface that was changed from artificial turf into grass in the weeks before the game.

The NFL’s Carolina Panthers have been outspoken about soccer teams’ advantages playing on grass on their home turf. NFL games that are played at venues use synthetic turf, which the players believe is more prone to injury.