2024-07-15 06:16:03
Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 (0-0, 0-0) for their second straight win.
Lautaro Martinez scored the only goal in the 112th minute.
Argentina ended the game without their leader Lionel Messi, who got injured while running and falling in the 64th minute and was replaced.
In a match that started one hour and 22 minutes late due to the crowd, Argentina won their third major competition title in a row, having also won the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, and repeated the feat of Spain, who won the 2008 and in the 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
Argentina also ended Colombia’s 28-match unbeaten streak that began in February 2022 after losing to Argentina.
Martinez entered the field in the 97th minute and scored a goal after a pass from Giovanni Lo Celso. From the penalty area, Martinez sent the ball between the raised hands of goalkeeper Camilo Vargas with his right foot, scoring his 29th goal for the national team and becoming the tournament’s top scorer with five goals.
At the age of 37, Messi played his 39th and possibly final Copa America game, scoring once in the tournament. He remained on the field after injuring his ankle in the first half, but immediately looked on the bench after falling in the second half. As he walked off the field, he took off his right football boot, spraining his ankle.
Kick-off was delayed after crowd control issues outside the stadium, including hordes of fans climbing over security fencing.
Days after Uruguay’s players were involved in a brawl with Colombia fans after their semifinal match in Charlotte, fans climbed over fences and railings to watch the game in person, with officials unable to track who had bought tickets and who hadn’t.
Colombia had Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez make four saves in the first half, but Argentina began to threaten more goals in the second half.
Argentina’s Nicolas Gonzalez, who replaced Messi, scored a goal in the 76th minute but it was disallowed due to a backside, while another shot by Gonzalez in the 95th minute was saved by Vargas.
It has already been reported that on Saturday, in the fight for third place, the Uruguayan national team defeated Canada 4-3 in extra time after 2-2 in regular time.
The South American Championship or “Copa America” was held in 14 US cities this year. It is one of the stages of preparation for the 2026 World Cup final tournament, which the USA will host together with Canada and Mexico.
Argentina also won the championship held three years ago, beating host Brazil 1-0 in the final.
2024-07-15 06:16:03