• Jefferson Lerma scored the winner to send Colombia to the Copa America 2024 final
  • Daniel Munoz was sent off in the 45th minute
  • Colombia will face Argentina at Hard Rock Stadium on July 1

Colombia extended their unbeaten streak to 28 games as Nestor Lorenzo's squad defeated Uruguay to advance to the Copa America 2024 final despite playing with ten men for more than 50 minutes.

Colombia and Uruguay both won their respective groups at Copa America 2024, and a semi-final between the two sides felt inevitable. Colombia emphatically defeated Panama in the quarter-finals 5-0, while Uruguay survived a penalty shootout against Brazil. Tonight, the two sides faced off to decide who gets to take on the reigning champions, Argentina, in the Copa America final.

How the game unfolded

In front of a stadium of yellow shirts, Colombia looked the more dangerous side in the early stages of the match, pushing forward with precision and speed to test Uruguay's makeshift backline. It was La Celeste, though, who had the first real chance of the game when Darwin Nunez released a left-footed strike that went just wide in the 17th minute. The Liverpool striker would have two more decent looks at goal, but he lacked the end product.

Uruguay might not have been able to capitalize on their chances, but Colombia did not make the same mistakes. Jefferson Lerma, back in the starting XI after serving a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, got on the end of another brilliant James Rodriguez corner with a header at the back post in the 39th minute.

Just six minutes after the opening goal, Daniel Munoz, who was already booked 31st minute, received a second yellow for elbowing Manuel Ugarte in the chest. Colombia went into the locker room up a goal, but down a man.

A goal for Uruguay felt inevitable in the second half, but La Celeste struggled to take advantage of their extra player. Their best chance came in the 71st minute when an unmarked Luis Suarez kissed the outside of the post with a strike from 15 yards out. Marcelo Bielsa's squad kept knocking on the door, but could not find an equalizer against Colombia's stout backline, forcing them to settle for the third place match while Colombia advanced to the Copa America final.