Jefferson Lerma scored in the 39th minute and Colombia played a man short the entire second half in a 1-0 win over Uruguay on Wednesday night to reach the Copa America final against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

Daniel Munoz was ejected in first-half stoppage time for his second yellow card, but Colombia held on to reach the championship match for the first time since winning their only Copa title as event hosts in 2001.

Colombia also extended their unbeaten streak to a team record 28 games, one more than their run from 1992-94 and the current longest streak in men's international football.

In a contentious game that included seven yellow cards and one red, players from both teams pushed and shoved in a scrum on the field at the final whistle and some players went into the stands to scrap with fans.

Defending champions Argentina and Colombia will meet Sunday night in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Argentinians are seeking a record 16th Copa title and are looking to join Spain from 2008-12 as the only countries to win three straight major championships.

Before an overwhelmingly pro-Colombia crowd of 70,644 that filled Bank of America Stadium with yellow jerseys and flags, Uruguay fell behind for the first time in the tournament.

James Rodriguez's corner kick was headed in from short range by Lerma, who outjumped Jose Maria Gimenez for his third international goal and second of the tournament. Rodriguez has six assists in the tournament – triple the total of any other player.

Munoz received his first yellow card from Mexican referee Cesar Ramos in the 31st minute for a reckless slide tackle on Maximiliano Araujo and his second for elbowing Manuel Ugarte in the stomach.

Rodriguez was given a yellow card in the 55th minute for arguing with Ramos when the referee failed to stop play after Richard Ríos was kicked on a shin by Darwin Nunez.

Ríos was removed on a stretcher, re-entered the game, then went down in another challenge and was substituted in the 62nd minute. Rodriguez was removed at the same time to keep him eligible for the final.

Colombia goalkeeper Federico Valverde didn't have to make his first save until he stopped Nicolás de la Cruz in the 68th minute.

Luis Suarez, Uruguay's career leader with 68 goals, entered in the 66th minute and hit the outside of a post with a shot in the 71st. He grasped his head in his hands in disgust.

Colombia's Mateus Uribe, another second-half sub, sent an uncontested shot wide in the 88th, and Uribe's open shot in the fourth minute of stoppage time ricocheted off the body of sliding goalkeeper Sergio Rochet and then hit the crossbar.