Copa America 2024: Argentina beat Colombia after crowd chaos to win 16th Copa America in Miami
Published 15/07/2024 at 08:12 GMT+1
Lautaro Martinez scored an extra-time winner as Argentina beat Colombia 1-0 to win a record 16th Copa America title, in a Miami final delayed by over an hour. People without tickets tried to get into the Hard Rock Stadium and gates had to be shut as organisers tried to get control of the situation. Angel Di Maria goes out of international on a high, describing it as a “dream” finale.
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Video credit: SNTV
Argentina claimed a record 16th Copa America title with a 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia, but the final was overshadowed by crowd trouble which caused a kick-off delay of over an hour in Miami.
Lautaro Martinez scored the winner in the 112th minute after an emotional Lionel Messi was forced off in the second half because of injury.
In scenes which brought to mind the Euro 2020 final at Wembley (in July 2021), fans without tickets tried to gain access to the 65,000 sell-out Hard Rock Stadium - a venue for World Cup 2026 - leading to organisers shutting the gates and denying access to supporters who did have them.
A statement by the stadium said “thousands of fans without tickets attempted to forcibly enter the stadium, putting other fans, security and law enforcement officers at extreme risk”. The game eventually started an hour and 22 minutes later than scheduled.
Another statement followed in the hours after, with the Hard Rock Stadium defending its preparations with CONMEBOL and CONCACAF and admitting some fans with tickets never got into the venue because some supporters engaged in “illegal conduct, fighting police officers, breaking down walls and barricades and vandalising the stadium”.
Once the match kicked off, Julian Alvarez missed an early chance for Argentina, while Liverpool winger Luis Diaz also went close, with Emiliano Martinez making several saves, before Messi had to withdraw in tears in the 66th minute with an ankle problem.
After a further delay for a half-time show by Shakira, extending the midway break by almost half an hour, Argentina began to look more of a threat, with Angel Di Maria, who was playing his last game for Argentina before retiring from international football, going close, while Nicolas Gonzalez had an effort well saved by Camilo Vargas.
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The score remained level after 90 minutes but the world champions had players in reserve and Martinez entered the field seven minutes into extra-time.
Within 15 minutes the Inter Milan forward had put his side ahead, latching on to a through ball by Giovani Lo Celso before scoring past Vargas.
“The truth is, it’s hard to describe,” said Di Maria, after playing his last game for Argentina.
“It was written like that. I told the guys last night at dinner that I dreamt it. That’s why I said it was my last Copa America. I dreamt we made it to the final and we won it so I could go out this way.
“I’ll be always grateful to this generation who gave me everything, helped me win what I always wanted and today, I am leaving like this, It could not be better.”
Colombia’s James Rodriguez was named player of the tournament, while Martinez finished as top scorer with five goals.
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