Argentina defeated Columbia 1-0 in extra time to win Copa America 2024, winning the trophy for the record 16th time and for the second time in a row.
Argentina took on Columbia in the final of the 2024 edition of Copa America. The game was being played in the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
Both of these teams have had a dominant journey to the final. Argentina came into this competition not only as defending Copa America champions but also as defending FIFA World Cup champions. In Group A, they comfortably defeated Canada, Chile, and Peru to advance to the quarterfinal, where they beat Ecuador after the game went to penalties.
Check Out: Argentina Beats Columbia Copa America 2024 Final
In the semi-final, the Albiceleste faced Canada once again, defeating them with the same 2-0 scoreline to make their way to the championship match.
As for Columbia, they defeated Paraguay and Costa Rica in Group D before drawing against Brazil to top their group. In the quarterfinal, they thumped Panama 5-0.
Facing Uruguay, who was considered the second-favorite team (after Argentina) to win this competition, in the semi-final, the Columbians edged past them 1-0. And that is how we got to the Argentina vs Columbia final.
Argentina Beats Columbia Copa America 2024 Final
There was already controversy before the start of the match, as the game started almost two hours late due to issues and mismanagement with letting fans into the stadium. But then the contest started, and the defending champions took early control.
Despite dominating in the early proceedings, it was Columbia who made the first big chance of the game, as an excellent ball by in-form James Rodriguez found Jhon Cordoba in the box, whose acrobatic finish could only find the outside of the post.
Besides that, it was a very nervy half, with both teams fearing to give their opponents an opportunity. The first half ended 0-0.
Following the first half’s script, Argentina sprang to life in the early proceedings, with Columbia pushing back as the half settled.
In the 66th minute, Lionel Messi seemed to have suffered a non-contact injury after running and falling. The 37-year-old had to be carried off the field and was substituted. The legendary attacker was then seen weeping in the dugout, possibly his last appearance for Argentina in a major tournament.
And that is how the second half ended, with the score still 0-0. Just before regulation time came to an end, the ever-creative James Rodriguez was substituted. The first period of extra time, which was only introduced in this tournament for the final, was all the same.
In the 95th minute, Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez were substituted in, and the two showed their magic in the 112th minute. As the Columbian back-line was exhausted after almost two hours of football, Lo Celso’s immaculate pass found Martinez in the box, who rocketed the ball past keeper Camilo Vargas, 1-0. Lautaro than sprinted to the dugout and embraced Messi.
The goal sure raised the tension on the pitch, as a brawl lit up in the 115th minute, but Argentina kept the game in control till the final whistle blew, and Argentina won their third major title in a row.
Copa America 2024 was the 48th edition of Copa America, which was first played all the way back in 1916. Argentina has now become the most successful team in competition history, having won 16 titles and going past Uruguay’s 15.
Despite having no major international trophies in his cabinet, Lionel Messi has now won three in the last three years. This being his second Copa America win, it sure puts a nice bow on his international career.
But it was Columbia’s James Rodriguez who won the Player of the Tournament award for his seven-goal contributions. Having scored one goal, the former Real Madrid player assisted six in this competition.
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