Colombia, Uruguay set up thrilling semifinal – Sportsnet.ca

James Rodríguez faced the stands with his arms outstretched after netting Los Cafeteros’ second goal against Panama. Colombia fans jumped and cheered as Luis Días pretended to place a crown on the skipper’s head to acknowledge the winger’s emphatic performance on Saturday.

Colombia’s dominant quarterfinal win was the start of an action-packed night of soccer that went on to see Uruguay edge Brazil in a shootout. With the win, Uruguay booked the final place in the 2024 Copa América semifinals and set up more mouth-watering matches to come.

Missed the matches, or simply want a recap? Read on to learn the key takeaways from Saturday’s Copa América quarterfinal action. 

THE RESULTS

Colombia 5, Panama 0 in Glendale, Ariz.: Match report

Uruguay 0 (4), Brazil 0 (2) [penalties] in Las Vegas: Match report

MAIN TALKING POINTS

Rodríguez leads Colombia to five-star display

Considering Colombia’s dominance in the group stage, we knew Los Cafeteros (The Coffee Growers) would show up in the knockouts. But did we predict three Colombian goals in the first half? Surely not. Néstor Lorenzo’s side came out swinging, playing with fearlessness, aggression and possession. The early dominance served the squad well, leading to two goals in the first 15 minutes. 

Rodríguez put on a clinic, assisting Jhon Córdoba’s opener and scoring from the spot shortly after. The 32-year-old became the second player since 2011 to tally five assists in one Copa América tournament, following Argentina’s Lionel Messi, who did so in 2021. Clearly, his leadership, confidence and energy uplifts his teammates and leads to results on the pitch. This type of starpower is rare and separates the good teams from the great ones (it’s also something Panama lacks).

It’s hard to believe this is the same Rodríguez who doesn’t get minutes for his club, São Paulo. After his glittering performances at the 2024 Copa América thus far, the tables might turn for the winger.

That said, Los Canaleros (The Canal Men) had some bright spots – even if the scoreline didn’t show it. After conceding the first two goals, Thomas Christiansen’s side got a second wind, showing technical and tactical creativity that even surpassed Colombia for a bit. But after Días’ chip made it 3-0 right before the half, Colombia’s brilliance was too much to overcome. In the second 45, the sea of yellow in the stands chanted “Ole! Ole! Ole!” with each pass their players made. Colombia was able to pick the ball off Panama’s struggling midfield, leading to Los Cafeteros controlling possession. Once Richard Ríos’ miscue goal made it 4-0, it was game over. There was nothing Panama could do but be proud it made it this far.

Looking ahead, Colombia has momentum heading into the semifinals against Uruguay. The team is scoring goals, dominating the midfield and has passionate fans backing its every move. However, Colombia is also a team that rides on emotions. Will the excitement and importance of the next round cause havoc, or will its statement quarterfinal performance seep into the semis?

Uruguay vs. Brazil characterized by fouls

Let’s cut to the chase. In Uruguay’s penalty win over Brazil, physicality and feistiness took precedence over quality on the pitch. In the first half alone, La Celeste (The Sky Blue) recorded a whopping 13 fouls without a yellow card. Combined pass accuracy in the first 45 was 72 per cent, the lowest first-half number of any match so far at Copa America. Was the overly aggressive play a tactic from Marcelo Bielsa’s side, or simply the result of a classic, scrappy South American matchup? 

Overall, the game was frantic and fast, which gave Uruguay its share of chances. Bielsa’s men thrived with long, direct balls and won most of the aerial duels Saturday night. But considering Brazil’s difficulties with La Celeste’s style, especially in the midfield, Uruguay still struggled with the end product. 

However, the tables turned in the 74th minute when Nahitan Nández was sent off after a nasty foul on Brazil’s Rodrygo, who was lucky to walk away from that challenge without a broken ankle. Dorival Júnior’s side increased in intensity with the man advantage, but it wasn’t enough to break the deadlock in regulation time. To penalties it went for the third time over the past three days, which ultimately saw Uruguay come out on top.

The red card situation was also a reminder of the questionable refereeing the 2024 tournament has endured. Uruguay got away with far too much, and it’s concerning that it took so long for both the ref and VAR to determine Nández’s foul worthy of a walk-off. Additionally, it’s disappointing that the match was characterized by hostility rather than seeing talented players at their best. Sure, the fans got to see some excitement, but this is soccer after all, not UFC.

SAVE OF THE DAY

Camilo Vargas, or Spider-Man? The 35-year-old Colombian played hero in the 18th minute after his spidey reflexes denied Panama a goal. Roderick Miller’s header powered off the post and onto the goal line, but Vargas swatted it away in the last second. Cool, calm and collected.

HAIRSTYLE OF THE DAY

While Raphinha is one of Brazil’s stars on the pitch, he always knows how to make an impression with his hair. On Saturday, the 27-year-old rocked an elaborated braided style complete with unique swirls.

STAT OF THE DAY

Colombia has now scored 11 goals across its four games at the 2024 Copa América, equalling the country’s tally for most goals scored at one edition of the competition. 
Colombia netted 11 goals on two occasions previously, when it finished second in 1975 and lifted the trophy on home soil in 2001. If Colombia scores at all in its semifinal on Wednesday, this tournament will be its most successful one from a goal-scoring perspective.

THREE STARS OF THE DAY

1. James Rodríguez (Colombia): Is there a time when the Colombian skipper isn’t on our three-stars list? In Saturday’s win, the 32-year old’s precise corner created his team’s first goal, before he smashed home a penalty in the 15th minute. It’s incredible how strong his shot is, and how accurate his deliveries are.

2. Sergio Rochet (Uruguay): After making a few big saves in regulation time, the 31-year-old goalkeeper didn’t let the penalty pressure get to him. His big block on Éder Militão’s first shot set the tone for what would become a massive win for his country.

3. Federico Valverde (Uruguay): The Real Madrid player showed his penalty preparations paid off. After opting out of shooting vs. Manchester City in the Champions League this season due to being psychologically unprepared, the 25-year-old made no mistake from the spot this time around. The midfielder was also one of the most consistent players on the pitch.

LOOKING AHEAD

The tournament will take the next two days off ahead of the semifinals. On Tuesday, the Canadian debutants will take on World Cup winners Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., while the Colombian powerhouses will battle the mighty Uruguayans on Wednesday in Charlotte.