Copa America Takeaways: 10-man Colombia defeats Uruguay to reach final

The 2024 Copa América has been a thrilling, demanding display of gritty and passionate soccer, which was out in full force during Wednesday’s semifinal between Colombia and Uruguay.

After Argentina punched its ticket to Sunday’s final on Tuesday, Colombia followed suit after a tense and unpredictable clash in Charlotte. Los Cafeteros’ Jefferson Lerma opened the scoring with a stunning header before Daniel Muñoz’s elbow sent Colombia to 10 men. Despite the disadvantage, Néstor Lorenzo’s side held on to extend its undefeated streak to a whopping 28 games.

Read on for a recap of Wednesday’s semifinal action at Copa América 2024.

THE RESULTS

Colombia 1, Uruguay 0 in Charlotte: Match report

MAIN TALKING POINTS

10-man Colombia holds on against ruthless Uruguay

There were plenty of storylines heading into Wednesday’s semifinal. Colombia walked onto the pitch having avoided defeat in its last 27 games, matching its all-time unbeaten record. Uruguay entered the fray hoping to take the next step to an unprecedented 16th Copa América title. But on a humid, chaotic evening in North Carolina, it was the former who reigned supreme. Lorenzo’s squad rightfully earned a place in its first Copa final in 23 years, after its last entrance came in 2001 when it beat Mexico for the crown.

It’s hard to pinpoint the match’s turning point when there were so many important moments. Marcelo Bielsa’s squad looked devoid of energy after Rodrigo Bentancur was forced off with injury early in the first half, but Colombia’s red card right before the break was dramatic in its own right. It’s natural that emotions flare in tense situations, but there was no reason for Muñoz to lose his cool to Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte. His decision to elbow the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder put Colombia on edge in the final 45, and he’s darned lucky his side held on. Los Cafeteros behaved bravely, taking on a strong and determined Uruguayan team with one less player to boot, but the consequences of Muñoz’s action will be felt in the final. The 28-year-old has been one of the best fullbacks at the tournament, and his consistency and versatility will be missed against Argentina on Sunday.

On the other hand, Uruguay will be disappointed with its slew of missed opportunities. Star striker Darwin Núñez has now recorded 20 attempts at the 2024 Copa América, the most of any player, but only scored two goals. While it’s safe to say the Liverpool striker’s return on investment isn’t high, his teammates didn’t help the situation. With ruthless, renewed energy in the second half thanks to a one-man advantage, Bielsa will be disappointed his side’s 13 total shots didn’t result in an equalizer. This should be the boss’ main area of focus ahead of Saturday’s bronze medal game against Canada.

The beautiful, chaotic game

It’s interesting watching the Copa América after the Euros. While the European tournament has typically been more direct and tactical, almost boring if you will, the Copa has been the exact opposite. 

On Wednesday, Bank of America Stadium was indicative of the Roman Colosseum. The Colombian and Uruguayan athletes fought for a place in the final like their lives depended on it. Fans in the stands yelled and cheered at their “gladiators,” hoping to probe them into action. Aggression and emotions were high, which resulted in a belligerent, bloody battle complete with fouls, tackles, injuries, a red card and tons of screaming at the referee. 

An overarching storyline of the entire tournament has been the physical play. However, casual fans must remember this is South American soccer, not the no-nonsense, complete style seen in the Premier League, for example. Wednesday’s semifinal was a glittering balance of hostility, passion and technical brilliance. Uruguay and Colombia produced a fervent, exciting display that quite simply was a pleasure to watch. The passes were short and quick, and the ball was end-to-end. There were plenty of shots, creative set pieces and a sense of unpredictability. While the sport is often a serious affair amongst the most passionate fans, sometimes it’s important to take a step back and appreciate the game for what it is: A beautiful, thrilling entity, which was on full display Wednesday evening.

FANS OF THE DAY

While these vibrant fans cheered for different teams, they’re united by a common force — outlandish yet stylish hairstyles. 

COPA NEWS OF THE DAY

While Néstor Lorenzo is flying high after Wednesday’s win, Gregg Berhalter is probably feeling the opposite. 

The U.S. Soccer Federation confirmed that the 50-year-old has been fired as manager of the USMNT, effective immediately. The news comes in the wake of the team’s dismal performance at the 2024 Copa América, where the hosts failed to get out of the group stage after losing to Panama and Uruguay.

STAT OF THE DAY

It wouldn’t be a Colombia game without talking about James Rodríguez, would it? The 32-year-old, who’s in the form of his life, recorded his sixth assist at the 2024 Copa América. The São Paulo midfielder became the first player on record to tally six assists in one Copa tournament, surpassing Lionel Messi who had five in 2021. He’s classy, reliable and clinical.

THREE STARS OF THE DAY

1. Jefferson Lerma (Colombia): The Crystal Palace defender broke the deadlock in the 39th-minute after Rodríguez floated in a picture-perfect corner. The 29-year-old leaped and headed the ball home, slipping it past Uruguay keeper Sergio Rochet who was out of position.

2. Luis Díaz (Colombia): The 27-year-old quietly played a vital role in Colombia’s win, using his pace and agility to fly up the left flank and create opportunities. In the chaos of the second half, the Liverpool winger helped hype up the crowd, which acted as the team’s 12th man (or in this case, 11th) after Muñoz walked off.

3. Luis Suárez (Uruguay): The Inter Miami star was subbed on in the 67th-minute and made an instant impact, helping Uruguay reclaim possession and grab some serious shots on target. The 37-year-old’s counterattack, which hit the post in the 71st-minute, was La Celeste’s best chance of the night. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to level Colombia.

LOOKING AHEAD

The 2024 Copa América will take Thursday and Friday off before reconvening on Saturday for the bronze medal match. In that clash, Canada has a shot at redemption after bowing out 2-0 to Argentina in the semifinals. The debutants already earned respect after advancing to the final four, so who’s to say Les Rouges can’t continue to make history? That said, fresh off a devastating loss to Colombia, Uruguay will come out swinging and won’t be afraid to use its ruthless tactics to secure a podium finish.

On Sunday evening, world champions Argentina will look to make it back-to-back Copa titles. Despite some scares, such as nearly losing to Ecuador on penalties in the quarters, Lionel Scaloni’s side has been its usual dominant force. Its opponent, Colombia, has looked fresh too. Skipper Rodríguez is on form, and after taking down Bielsa’s mighty squad, Los Cafeteros will think that anything’s possible.