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Colombia and Uruguay were two of the most impressive teams in the competition and faced off for the last ticket to the final. It would always be difficult for either team, but it became a modern classic in the Copa America, where James’s magic left foot gave Colombia the lead, and they fought tooth and nail to defend it after a reckless Muños’s red card.

Goalscorers: 

Uruguay:

Colombia: Jefferson Lerma 90+1′

Bielsa had many questions to answer coming into this game after three of his four defenders missed the semifinals for different circumstances.
In the beginning, Uruguay used three centrebacks: Cáceres, Giménez, and Olivera. However, it quickly became apparent that the space between them was too big to leave that way. Ugarte’s position became deeper at times, becoming a back four, with Ugarte and Giménez in the middle, Olivera on the left, and Cáceres on the right. Bentancur also modified his initial position, joining the same line as Valverde.
Colombia also changed its formation, with Jhon Arias playing on the right in a role similar to what he is used to, James in the middle, Lucho on the left, with Cordoba as the n9.

In the first minutes, it was a very even match; Colombia was more dangerous on possession, but Uruguay had the most dangerous opportunities.
Jhon Córdoba was key for Colombia to break Uruguay’s pressure, kept possession, won duels, and played for the second ball, but Uruguay quickly improved in that regard and began to find Darwin Núñez between the lines. He was moving fantastic to have great opportunities. However, he lacks the composition and coolness in front of the goal to score.

In the first minutes, it was a very even match; Colombia was more dangerous on possession, but Uruguay had the most dangerous opportunities.
Jhon Córdoba was key for Colombia to break Uruguay’s pressure. He kept possession, won duels, and played for the second ball. Still, Uruguay quickly improved in that regard and began to find Darwin Núñez between the lines. He made fantastic moves to create great opportunities. However, he lacks the composition and coolness to score in front of the goal.

Bentancur was exactly what Uruguay needed in those minutes when they generated the most, but an injury will end his game. Bielsa was forced to make the first sub. Varela came in, playing as the left back, and Caceres, who was marking very tight Lucho Diaz, played more in the middle.

Colombia will find more easier to get in the final third, but they still struggled to generate any real chance to score. However, if something has happened many times, Colombia is breaking the ice in set pieces. In the 39th minute, a corner by James found Lerma’s head very unmarked to open the score. Terrible defense from Uruguay and many doubts from Camilo Vargas, who could do much more.

It was a hard pill to swallow for Uruguay, and Colombia was close to scoring the second one to almost sentence the game. Uruguay was trying to survive those minutes as best as they could and tried to frustrate Colombia. It worked wonders, considering Daniel Muñoz took the bait, elbowed Ugarte, saw the second yellow, and received a red card, drastically changing the game.

Thankfully for Colombia, the first half ended quickly, but the beginning of the second was a total war for both teams. Santiago Arias replaced Jhon Arias to defend in Colombia, while Biela made offensive changes, bringing in Olivera and De Arrascaeta.

Bielsa has made some comments about how he wish Colombia play with 11 players for the remaining of the game because how much time was wasted in the second half, and how he could sub in Luis Suárez early in the game.

The reailt if the first twenty minutes of the second half for Uruguay were underwhelming, they produced very little and have not idea how to open Colombia’s defence.

I was very disappointing in see how they lack any form of spark and electricity in attack despite the amount of players they had in attack. Even more how Cordoba and Lucho Diaz actually give some air to Colombia, breaking Uruguay’s dominance and later creating counterattacks. Diaz and Luis Sinisterra, when he came in, were massive in helping to win duels and keep the ball while they were isolate in attack.

Sinisterra created two occacison out of nothing to Mateus Uribe that he could not convert.
Again, Colombia may not produce much in attack but when they do, they take full advantage. And the way Cordoba and Lucho fight, run and win duels without help in attack is astonishing. The whole squad has an incredible attitude, always believing in themselves and staying composed even after the red. But seeing these two encapsulates the best of this team: a fighting spirit to battle against all adversities. They give minutes to rest and even produce to threat for Uruguay.

Coming back to Uruguay, Luis Suárez came in just in the 67th minute feels weird, especially seeing what he bring to the team. A new reference in attack, and was so close to score in the 70th minute, the entire Colombia defence sank too far into their box, leaving space in front of it, where Lucho shoot but hit the woodwork.

Uruguay having two n9 force Nestor Lorenzo to adjust the defence, and sub in Yerry Mina and changed to three center backs. Yerry Mina bring even more stability in defence, being a wall in the air and producing numerical advanges.

The last minutes of the game could go in either direction, Colombia were sooo closed to scored the second one while Uruguay were just inches away to connect the final touch. South America game in its pure essential.

At the end, Colombia was able to hold it together and win an already modern classic of South American football. They will face Argentina to try to win their just second Copa America, with some noterous missing.

Miami will host probably the best match that Copa America can present, with the reigning champions and the best team of the tournament to play the 14th of July.

Uruguay will stayed in Charlotte for a little longer, to play for the third place against Canada the 13th of July.