The Copa América championship was successfully defended by Argentina, thanks to a remarkable additional time goal from substitute, Lautaro Martínez, which resulted in a 1-0 victory over Colombia in an exhilarating clash held in Miami. Martínez, the recipient of the Golden Boot, dazzled the field with his spectacular strike at the 112th minute, invigorating a thrill-packed contest that was lacking the final blow till his appearance in the 97th minute. His strategic use of Giovani Lo Celso’s pass enabled him to overcome a stout-hearted Camilo Vargas guarding the Colombian net.
Remarkably, this was Martínez’s fifth goal in the tournament, a match that left Lionel Messi nursing an injury and removed from the field midway through the second half. An emotional Messi returned to claim the trophy for the third consecutive major competition, ending a lengthy barren spell that seemed to shadow his global reputation.
The victory took Argentina’s Copa América conquests to a record 16 times, one more than Uruguay. Despite the euphoria on the field, distressing scenes unfolded outside Hard Rock Stadium due to administrative disarray. The overwhelming crowds caused police and stadium security to struggle, resulting in a kick-off delayed by over an hour.
Both Argentina and Colombia displayed eagerness to make up for the delayed start once the match, initially scheduled for 8pm local time, got underway at 9.22pm. Julián Álvarez of Argentina, whose starting position over Martínez left many perplexed, missed a volley within 45 seconds. Colombia’s aggressive play, represented by Jhon Córdoba’s chest and volley hitting the goal post at the 6th minute, also did not result in a breakthrough.
Billed as a clash of titans between experienced footballers Messi and James Rodriguez, it was in fact Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister who skillfully coordinated the defending champions’ gameplay, with his co-player Luis Diaz’s powerful sprinting propelling Colombia towards attack. Despite wavering dominance, the first half saw the supposed underdogs marginally seizing the lead through excellent, precise passing techniques. An impressive 25-yard drive by Jefferson Lerma compelled Emi Martinez to make a full-length save, deflecting the ball onto the pole.
Messi seemed set to score at the 20-minute mark, but a strike following an Ángel Di María pullback struck Álvarez as it navigated towards the goal. His struggle heightened at 36 minutes when Messi was forced into a painful fall, grabbing his right ankle due to a tackle from Santiago Arias. It seemed he could not completely recover from the injury.
The second half brought opportunities for both teams, with a Di María left-footed shot requiring a standout save from Vargas. At 65 minutes, Messi collapsed to the turf unchallenged. The captaincy was transferred to Di María, then in his final game of his 145-match international career for Argentina that stretched across six Copa América tournaments. He too made a tearful departure from the field, this time for divergent reasons, at the 115-minute mark.
On the 72nd minute, Colombia’s strong appeal for a penalty was dismissed when Córdoba and Mac Allister pursued the same ball, followed by Argentina celebrating a goal from Messi’s substitute Nicolás González. However, it was ruled out due to an offside by Nicolás Tagliafico in the precedding play.
González, who had a greater impact than Messi, made a move to send a Di María cross towards the goal, but Álvarez missed a potential easy goal as the game passed the 90-minute mark. In overtime, González forced a significant save from Vargas after nudging Rodrigo De Paul’s assist towards the goal. Vargas managed to smother the ball before it hit the back of the net.
Despite the sweltering humidity, an unwaveringly vigorous overtime saw two football teams resisting the easy way out through a penalty shootout. Everyone anticipated a victorious conclusion and, as if on cue, Martínez stepped up to the plate. While Colombia participated commendably in the finale, the lack of a decisive finisher may have cost them the game.
Nevertheless, what followed the match was a series of unfortunate events that might mar the entire celebration. Unsettling incidents marred the tournament with the harrowing aftermath of the final game being the worst. A throng of spectators were trapped under the harsh weather conditions outside the sports complex that had already reached its full capacity. Security breaches were evident as clips on social media portrayed how some fans were entering through vents or by climbing fences, thereby, causing a mass panic. There were children who had to be taken out from the crowd to prevent any mishap, and many spectators were distressed by the unfolding chaos.
In an attempt to control the situation, stadium officials closed the entrances, placing the blame on several spectators who didn’t possess tickets but were trying to get in forcibly. This decision risked the lives of other spectators, security guards, and law enforcement officers. The exchange of tickets had reached its peak where some were being sold at remarkably high prices, reaching up to $2,000 (€2,182) on the secondary market.
The disorganised situation stemmed from the absence of a competent stadium perimeter and ticket pre-screening. In a desperate attempt to disperse the crowd, organisers asked the non-ticket-holders to evacuate, but it was reported that some family members of Argentina’s players too got entangled in this shambolic event.
One last attempt to curb the escalating situation came when the officials decided to reopen the gates from 8:15pm to 8:30pm. It was becoming increasingly dangerous to keep them closed, which led to a quick filling of the remaining seats. It’s uncertain whether ticket checks were carried out.
Faults were primarily due to a lack of local management since the tournament was primarily organized by Conmebol. These events raise concerns about the World Cup, which will happen in the United States in two years’ time. A comprehensive review is necessary to ensure the prevention of such situations and to cloak the event under FIFA’s supervision.