By Sabiu Abdullahi
Argentina edged out Colombia 1-0 in extra time to secure a record 16th Copa America title at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
Lautaro Martinez’s decisive goal in the additional period sealed the victory, cementing Argentina’s status as a football powerhouse.
The win marks Argentina’s third consecutive major tournament triumph, following their 2021 Copa America victory and 2022 World Cup success in Qatar.
However, the match was not without its challenges, including a 82-minute delay due to security and crowd issues.
On the field, Colombia started strong, with Jhon Cordoba’s early shot hitting the post. Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria later had opportunities, but Colombia’s defense held strong.
The game remained goalless until Martinez’s winner in extra time.
Off the field, chaos erupted outside the stadium as fans struggled to enter due to security issues and inefficient entry systems.
The situation was eventually resolved, but not before some fans required medical attention for heat exhaustion.