Copa America now has its final, with one Crystal Palace player playing a defining role in the outcome of the semi-final.
Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma is a hero in Colombia right now after his goal sent the country through to the Copa America 2024 final.
Lerma’s goal has set up a final date with defending champions Argentina next Sunday, or in the early hours of Monday for UK-based fans.
Unfortunately, Daniel Munoz didn’t have the most successful outing for Colombia, seeing red and subsequently will be missing out on the final for a silly moment. This will be an annoying moment for Munoz considering he has been so good all tournament.
Here’s how the Colombian press has been reacting to the display from both.
- READ MORE: Three Crystal Palace players at Copa America 2024: All group stage fixtures and how to watch
How Colombian media have reacted to Jefferson Lerma and Daniel Munoz
Colombia has managed to reach the final of Copa America, despite Munoz’s red card received for elbowing Manuel Ugarte.
After the 1-0 win, Colombian media reacted and reviewed the two Crystal Palace players very differently.
El Heraldo scored Munoz just a 4/10, citing the red card: “He was playing a great game, but he let himself be knocked out of the game by a Uruguayan player and was expelled. A pity.”
In contrast, the match winner Lerma scored an 8/10: “The author of the victory goal. The owner of the midfield. When he was left alone, he did well. Great game of the steering wheel.”
ESPN also had differing reviews, slamming Munoz as ‘childish’ for his red card: “He played a good game, but he ended up expelled in a childish and irresponsible way. His performance was tarnished moments before the first part ended, in a childish way he allowed himself to be provoked and elbowed Ugarte, the judge forgave him the direct red and then took out the second yellow, leaving the team with one player less for what was left.”
The same outlet then was more complimentary over Lerma: “He beat himself in the midfield, in the first half he tried a shot that was deflected, he was very applied in scoring, but as if that were not enough he was the man of the match. When he recovered the ball, he always looked for Díaz with long balls.”
Finally, El Nuevo Siglo lauded Lerma for sending the crowd wild with his goal: “Jefferson Lerma, on his return to the starting eleven of coach Néstor Lorenzo after a suspension, scored in the 38th minute the goal that defined this semifinal at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, whose stands were shaken by the crowd of fans who accompanied the coffee growers, the vast majority among the more than 70,000 spectators who attended the match.”
Crystal Palace have six players in the final at either Euro 2024 or Copa America
Prior to the semi-finals in both competitions, it was highlighted that six members of the Palace squad were in with a chance of qualifying for the final.
Now the semi-finals are done, there are still six in with a chance of picking up a medal by the time Palace are in training next Monday.
Adam Wharton, Dean Henderson, Ebere Eze and Marc Guehi are all in the final with England against Spain, with Guehi playing a starring role.
To now be joined by Lerma and the suspended Munoz in the Copa final against Argentina, further highlights how much quality Palace currently have.
