July 2001 Sport News Headlines

BOGOTA - Hosts Colombia won the Copa America for the first time on Sunday, beating Mexico 1-0 with a goal on 65 minutes from Ivan Cordoba.

Cordoba scored with a glancing header to give the Colombians a victory they just about deserved at Bogota's El Campin stadium in front of a raucous confetti-throwing and flag-waving crowd of 46 000.

Minutes after the team had brandished the trophy a sizeable number of the country's 42 million inhabitants took to the streets for a night of wild celebration, some dancing an enthusiastic rumba after greeting the winning goal with cheers which echoed across the Andes.

The indisciplined Mexicans finished the final with nine men after having Juan Rodriguez dismissed with 11 minutes remaining.

Paraguayan referee Ubaldo Aquino also red-carded Gerardo Torrado in the final seconds.

Colombia won in their second final appearance, 26 years after going down to Peru, having marched past Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Honduras before seeing off the Mexicans.

Earlier, Honduras claimed an unexpected third place by beating 14-times champions Uruguay 5-4 on penalties after 90 minutes left the sides deadlocked at 2-2.

Saul Martinez, Honduras' hero in their 2-0 quarter-final win over Brazil, scored the opener after 14 minutes.

Joe Bizera levelled the scores on 21 minutes before a frenetic period just before the break saw Junior Izaguirre put Honduras back in front on 41 minutes and Andres Martinez equalise on the stroke of half-time.

In the ensuing shootout, Carlos Gutierrez was the man who missed for Uruguay, his kick too close to Honduran keeper Henry Enamorado. - Nampa-Sapa-AFP

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