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Argentina secured their 16th Copa America title in a thrilling 1-0 victory over Colombia, although the match was marred by crowd trouble that caused a significant delay in kick-off time. The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami was the venue for this historic clash, reminiscent of the scenes witnessed during the Euro 2020 final at Wembley earlier this year.
The chaos ensued as fans without tickets attempted to gain access to the sold-out stadium, which had a capacity of 65,000. Consequently, the gates were closed, denying entry to legitimate ticket holders. The stadium released a statement expressing concern for the safety of fans, security personnel, and law enforcement officers due to the actions of these unauthorized individuals. As a result, the game commenced a staggering one hour and 22 minutes later than scheduled.
Once the match finally got underway, both teams had their fair share of opportunities. Julian Alvarez squandered an early chance for Argentina, while Luis Diaz of Liverpool came close for Colombia. Emiliano Martinez, the Argentine goalkeeper, made several crucial saves to keep his team in the game. However, the defining moment came in the 66th minute when Lionel Messi, visibly emotional, was forced to leave the pitch due to an ankle injury.
Following a lengthy half-time show by Shakira, which extended the break by almost half an hour, Argentina began to assert their dominance. Angel Di Maria, playing his final international game, came close to scoring, and Nicolas Gonzalez’s effort was expertly saved by Camilo Vargas. Despite their best efforts, the score remained level after 90 minutes.
However, Argentina had a wealth of talent on their bench, and Lautaro Martinez was introduced in the seventh minute of extra time. Within 15 minutes, the Inter Milan forward capitalized on a through ball from Giovani Lo Celso, finding the back of the net past Vargas. The goal proved to be the winner, securing Argentina’s victory and the coveted Copa America title.
Reflecting on the triumph, Di Maria expressed his gratitude to his teammates, stating that he had dreamt of this moment. He announced that this would be his last Copa America and was thrilled to leave on such a high note. The veteran player praised the current generation of Argentine players for their support and for helping him achieve his dreams.
James Rodriguez of Colombia was named the player of the tournament, while Martinez finished as the top scorer with five goals.