How Colombia beat Uruguay to reach the 2024 Copa America final

Colombia's unbeaten run is up to 28 games now, comprised of 22 wins and six draws.

Their last loss came all the way back in February 2022. The team that beat them on that day? Argentina, the same opponent they'll face in Sunday's final...

After Colombia were reduced to 10 men right before halftime, Uruguay knew they had a great opportunity to dominate the second half and recover from their one-goal deficit.

Uruguay did control play in the second half, recording 254 passes to Colombia's 92 and taking seven shots to Colombia's four, but Colombia's chances actually accounted for a greater expected goals total, 0.68 to 0.54.

In the end, Uruguay couldn't take their chances.

Jefferson Lerma entered this tournament with one international goal to his name, having made his debut for Colombia in 2017.

In the space of four games he has tripled that total, first scoring against Paraguay in the group stage before adding another tonight against Uruguay.

Tonight’s game ended on a sour note when a number of Uruguayan players, including Darwin Nunez, appeared to clash with Colombian fans after the full-time whistle.

Following the game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina altercations broke out between supporters in the stands with players entering the area where their families were situated in the stadium.

Liverpool forward Nunez was among those caught up with Ronald Araujo of Barcelona and Atletico Madrid defender Jose Maria Gimenez also pictured near the incident.

Video footage appeared to show Colombian fans clash with Uruguay supporters, with objects — including drinks cans — being thrown.

Police officers and security guards then appeared to intervene before the players returned to the field alongside some family members who followed.

Players including Nunez were visibly shaken by the incident. He was later pictured being consoled by Luis Suarez on the pitch.

For more on this developing story Go Deeper with The Athletic’s breaking news team below.

Uruguay and Canada will meet in Charlotte on Saturday for the third-place playoff. Among other storylines, that game will feature a meeting of two former Leeds United managers in Marcelo Bielsa and Jesse Marsch.

Uruguay and Canada have met twice in the past but never at a major tournament. Uruguay won both of those meetings, the most recent coming in 2022 when Darwin Nunez and Nicolas de la Cruz scored.

Sunday's final features teams at opposite ends of the list of Copa America's all-time winners.

• Argentina: 15
• Uruguay: 15
• Brazil: 9
• Paraguay: 2
• Chile: 2
• Peru: 2
• Colombia: 1
• Bolivia: 1

Thanks to Jefferson Lerma's winning header in this match, Colombia have now scored 12 goals at this tournament, setting a new high for their scoring output at a single edition of Copa America.

Five of their goals have been headed, the most scored via that method by a team at Copa America since Argentina scored six in 1991.

The drama in Charlotte continued after the full-time whistle and FOX have just broadcast a troubling video which showed a number of Uruguay players appearing to clash with Colombia supporters in the stands.

Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez was among those caught up in the altercation.

The FOX pictures showed Nunez and other Uruguay players entering the crowd as a group of Colombia fans pushed towards them. Security guards then appeared to intervene as objects, including drinks, were thrown towards the players.

More on this as we get it.

Incredible celebrations at the final whistle here in Charlotte. Colombia, playing with 10 men for the entire second half, produced a performance full of guts and courage to beat Uruguay and reach the Copa America final. Some exceptional defending, with a special mention for Johan Mojica.

This is a massive achievement in the history of the Colombia national team, reaching the Copa America final for only the third time.

The previous two instances came in 1975, when they lost to Peru, and in 2001, when they beat Mexico on home soil.

A reader named Ragnar P. posted this on our Discussion page in the 63rd minute, and it proved all too prescient: This concludes the football portion of our program. Please enjoy the following violence.

Jubilation and desolation on display everywhere as Colombia celebrate and Uruguay commiserate.

Those emotions are suddenly replaced by a scrum at midfield, though, as players from the two teams come together in a melee. After plenty of pushing and shoving the players are eventually separated, allowing Colombia's celebrations to resume.

90+7' Uruguay 0-1 Colombia

Uruguay have a corner in the closing seconds. Rochet comes up for it, but De Arrascaeta fails to beat the first man.

Moments later, Lerma shoots on an open net from midfield but puts it just a bit too long!

90+6' Uruguay 0-1 Colombia

Castano is the latest player to be booked in this match, guilty of time-wasting. Colombia are so close now!