. Saves three pitches.
Lutario Martinez scored in the seventh minute with the help of Messi, one of the match figures.
Luis Diaz equalized in the 61st minute after a superb assist by Edwin Cardona.
‘Draw’ Martinez of English Aston Villa was the hero in the penalty shootout when he saved three men, including Devinson Sanchez, Jerry Mina and Edwin Cardona.
Rodrigo de Paul was the only loser for Argentina, who sent his start to the top.
It only took Messi three minutes to clear the three Colombians on the right side of the attack and send the almost converted cross by La Toro Martinez towards a goal.
Argentina continued under pressure, four minutes later Giovanni Lo Celso played long for Messi, who helped control Martinez into the area, making it 1-0 with a first-class right-hand man.
At 36, Wilmer Barrios’ shot from just outside the goal line in Lo Celso hit the post and went over the base line.
Soon, a header from Mina almost turned into a building goal, but the ball hit the crossbar.
In the 43rd minute, David Ospina had a fantastic reaction to divert a header from Nicolas Gonzalez, which was inches off a target.
Reynoldo Ruda kicked the board in half and made three changes: striker Yimi Char, midfielder Edwin Cardona and defender Frank Fabra replaced Rafael Borre, Gustavo Kuller and William Desilo.
Scaloni made a change: the entry of Nahuel Molina’s right-back Gonzalo Montiel.
In the first minutes, Colombia were high and had clear goal plays, but could not change due to inaccuracy in the definition and the efforts of the Argentine defenders.
Half an hour from the end, Dua sent Miguel Borja to the field to replace Zapada.
In the 61st minute, Cardona took a free kick from his own field and deflected the defense of Argentina. The midfielder watched Diaz for a long time, he filled the left wing of the attack, defining almost no angle, and fell 1-1 before Martinez could leave.
In the 72nd minute, Ospina was out of his area and Angel Di Maria threatened him and assisted La Utaro Martinez, who was drawn without a goalkeeper, but his shot hit Perios, who was standing in the goal line.
Messi was also on the verge of conversion in the 80th minute, but the requested left foot shot deflected his marker and hit the post.
Colombia also had some chances to score, but the match ended in a draw.
Fined, ‘Dipujos’ Martinez saved shots from Sanchez, Mina and Cardona for Argentina.
On the way to the final, Albiceleste was the undefeated leader of Group A over Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia, beating Ecuador 3-0 in the quarterfinals.
Argentina again faced the possibility of reducing the 28-year disadvantage without titles.
The last senior team to win the championship was Copa Amrica in 1993 in Ecuador.
Albiceleste will play against the locals in Maracana in the final of the Copa America in Brazil this Saturday.
Colombia and Peru will meet on Friday for third place.
– Datasheet:
1. Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Nahuel Molina (m. 46, Gonzalo Montiel), German Bezella, Nicolas Ottamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico; Rodrigo de Paul, Guido Rodriguez, Giovanni Lo Celso (d.56, Leandro Parades); Lionel Messi, Lutario Martinez and Nicolas Gonzalez (m.67, Angel di Maria).
Coach: Lionel Scaloni.
1. Colombia: David Ospina; Daniel Munoz, Jerry Mina, Davinson Sanchez, William Desilo (m.46, Frank Fabra); Wilmer Barrios, Gustavo Kuller (d.46, Edwin Cardona), Juan Quatrado, Luis Theos; Rafael Borre (m.46, Yimi Char) and Duan Sabada (m60, Miguel Borja).
Coach: Reynolds Ruda.
Goals: 1-0, m.7: Latoro Martinez. 1-1, m.61: Louis Diaz.
Penalty: Juan Quadrato: Goal (0-1). Lionel Messi: Goal (1-1). Davinson Sanchez: Failed (1-1). Rodrigo de Paul: Failed (1-1). Jerry Mina: Failed (1-1). Leandro Parades: Goal (2-1). Miguel Borja: Goal (2-2). La Toro Martinez: Goal (3-2). Edwin Cardona: Failed (3-2).
Referee: Venezuela Jesus Valencula advised Argentina’s Lo Celso, Mantel, Guido Rodriguez and Bezella, and Colombia’s Guadrado, Fabra, Porza, Munos, Cardona and Barrios.
Incidents: The Copa America semi-final in Brazil was played behind closed doors at the Mane Garrincha Stadium in Brasilia.
