On the night of June 4, 2016, the Copa America jubilee tournament started in the USA, dedicated to the centenary of the football federations of South America and the centenary of the tournament among the Latin American national teams. National South American teams, as well as teams from Central and North America, take part in the prestigious competition. The opening match took place in San Francisco. The teams of the USA and Colombia competed.
The 2016 Copa America opening match kicked off at an intense pace. The teams from the first minutes tried to actively create scoring chances for themselves, but in the first five minutes there were no dangerous situations either at the gate of the Americans or in the penalty area of the Colombian national team. The game was blown up by a goal in the 8th minute. The Colombian national team won the right for a corner from the right flank. Edwin Cardona's brilliant serve in the penalty area has found its addressee. AC Milan and Colombia defender Cristian Zapata sent the ball into the goal with a one-touch kick. Colombia took the lead 1-0.
After the missed goal, the Americans tried to look for happiness at the wrong gate, but the attacks of the US national team clearly lacked the sharpness of the attacks. For the entire first half, only Clint Dempsey's kick from outside the penalty area on 36 minutes can be distinguished. The ball flew near the goal post of the Colombia national team.
At the end of the half, the Colombians were able to distinguish themselves again. First, the South American footballers shot down the attacking impulse of the US national team, and then they were entitled to a penalty. In the 41st minute, Colombia captain James Rodriguez did not miss. At the break, the teams went with a two-goal advantage of the Colombian national team.
The USA national team was unable to start the second half actively. The first fifteen minutes, the Colombians confidently owned the initiative. Only in the 59th minute, the Americans got the right to the first corner, after which there was a danger at the gates of Ospina. Clint Dempsey hit his head, but the goalkeeper, along with a Colombian defensive player, were able to stop the ball at the line. In the 64th minute, the same Dempsey shot dangerously from a free-kick, but the first number of the Colombians deflected the blow.
In the last fifteen minutes, the meetings were not crowned with goals. The Colombian national team players had the best chance of scoring. In the 77th minute, Carlos Bacca went one-on-one with the American goalkeeper, but the Colombian's strike hit the crossbar.
The final score of the meeting 2: 0 in favor of the Colombian national team allowed the South Americans to score the first three points in the tournament and temporarily lead the standings of Group A.
