Argentina’s Copa America title hopes hung in the balance until the 112th minute, when a substitute broke Colombian hearts.
Lautaro Martinez struck an extra-time winner as Argentina edged out Colombia 1-0 to win their second successive Copa America title, despite losing Lionel Messi to injury.
The Inter forward climbed off the bench to break Los Cafeteros’ hearts in the 112th minute in Miami, where kick-off had been delayed for 82 minutes due to crowd disruption outside the stadium.
La Albiceleste headed into extra time without Messi, who left the field in tears in the 66th minute after sustaining an ankle injury.
Nevertheless, Lautaro Martinez stepped up in his skipper’s absence, slotting past Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas to deliver his nation’s record-breaking 16th Copa triumph.
Both sides demonstrated their attacking intent early on. Julian Alvarez fired wide inside the opening 60 seconds, while Jhon Cordoba’s volley clipped the outside of the post six minutes later.
Emiliano Martinez held onto a Carlos Cuesta header and, at the other end, Alvaraz inadvertently took the sting out of Lionel Messi’s goalbound effort on 20 minutes.
As the final remained in the balance, Jefferson Lerma fired narrowly wide from distance, while Nicolas Tagliafico headed over from a Messi free-kick just before the break.
Colombia created the better opportunities in the early stages of the second half. Santiago Arias drilled wide and Davinson Sanchez headed over from a James Rodriguez corner.
At the other end, Camilo Vargas pushed away Angel Di Maria’s effort from a tight angle, before a distraught Messi was forced off injured as the game headed into the final quarter.
Messi’s replacement Nicolas Gonzalez thought he had broken the deadlock in the 75th minute, but Argentina were denied by the offside flag as the game headed for extra time.
Gonzalez went close again five minutes into the first period, with Vargas scrambling across to thwart him on the line.
A penalty shootout loomed but, with eight minutes remaining, two Argentina substitutes combined with Giovani Lo Celso feeding Lautaro Martinez, whose composed finish snatched the Copa from under Colombia’s noses.
- Super sub Lautaro seals Argentina’s successful title defence
Having scored from the bench in Argentina’s opening two Group A games against Canada and Chile, Lautaro Martinez chose an ideal moment to complete a hat-trick of such strikes in this tournament.
Combining with fellow substitute Lo Celso, the Inter forward netted his fifth goal in the United States to secure the Golden Boot award.
La Albiceleste needed a hero after Messi limped off on a bittersweet night for the skipper.
The first player to feature in five Copa America finals, at 37 years and 20 days, he was also the oldest player to start one in the 21st century.
However, there was to be no match-winning contribution this time in a tournament at which he has been plagued by niggling injuries.
Messi’s international future is uncertain but team-mates Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi – both of whom donned the captain’s armband following his withdrawal – sign off with another major international honour under their belts.
- Courageous Colombia come up short
While Argentina captured their 16th Copa, Colombia were seeking just the second in their history.
Los Cafeteros claimed their sole triumph on home soil in 2001, notably recording three successive clean sheets in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
It looked like Nestor Lorenzo’s current crop of players could follow suit 23 years later, as they more than held their own with the reigning Copa and world champions.
But La Albiceleste – the last team to beat them before they embarked on their record-breaking 28-match unbeaten run – proved their nemesis once more, with Lautaro Martinez’s strike breaking that streak, and breaking their hearts.
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