Lerma:
Getty
Images
Advertisement
Colombia
secured
their
place
in
the
Copa
America
2024
final
after
a
hard-fought
1-0
victory
over
Uruguay
in
the
second
semifinal
match.
The
win
sets
up
a
thrilling
final
showdown
with
Argentina
on
Monday,
July
15.
Jefferson
Lerma
was
the
hero,
scoring
the
decisive
goal
with
a
header
from
a
James
Rodriguez
corner
in
the
39th
minute.
The
match
was
not
without
controversy,
as
tensions
boiled
over
between
players
and
fans
after
the
final
whistle.
Liverpool
forward
Darwin
Nunez,
who
was
at
the
center
of
the
post-match
fracas,
missed
several
key
opportunities
to
put
Uruguay
ahead.
His
frustrations
were
compounded
when
Crystal
Palace
midfielder
Lerma
broke
the
deadlock
for
Colombia.
The
Coffee
Growers
faced
adversity
when
Daniel
Munoz
was
sent
off
at
the
end
of
the
first
half
after
receiving
a
second
yellow
card
for
elbowing
Uruguay’s
Manuel
Ugarte.
Despite
being
reduced
to
10
men,
Colombia’s
defense
held
firm
against
relentless
Uruguayan
pressure.
Uruguay
came
close
to
equalising
in
the
second
half,
with
Luis
Suarez
hitting
the
post
and
Darwin
Nunez
failing
to
capitalise
on
his
chances.
Colombia’s
Mateus
Uribe
also
missed
two
late
opportunities
to
extend
their
lead,
but
his
side
managed
to
hold
on
for
the
win.
The
match
ended
in
chaotic
scenes
as
Darwin
Nunez
became
involved
in
an
altercation
with
spectators.
The
Uruguayan
striker
physically
confronted
Colombia
fans,
leading
to
disorder
near
the
area
where
friends
and
family
of
the
players
were
seated.
According
to
Uruguayan
outlet
El
Pais,
the
disturbance
occurred
close
to
where
the
players’
loved
ones
were
located.
Colombia
will
now
prepare
to
face
Argentina
in
the
Copa
America
final,
scheduled
for
Monday,
July
15
at
0100
BST.
Meanwhile,
Uruguay
will
compete
against
Canada
in
the
third-place
playoff
on
Sunday,
July
14
at
0100
BST.