On Saturday, James Rodríguez advanced to the Copa América semifinals after scoring one goal and setting up two more.

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For the third time in four years, Los Cafeteros have made it to the semifinals. On Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, they will take on Uruguay, who upset Brazil in a shootout later on Saturday.

“What’s most important is not yet over.” Rodriguez, who won player of the match, continued, “We hope to make the final.”

We are having a great time, so I am ecstatic. “Today, we played well and scored quickly.”

Jhon Cordoba, the Colombian striker, outmuscled his opponent to head in a corner to give his team the lead in the eighth minute. Captain Rodriguez then converted a penalty kick after Jhon Arias was taken down by Panamanian custodian Orlando Mosquera.

A penalty kick was scored by Rodríguez in the fifteenth minute.

Midway through the first half, Panama applied some pressure. Their best opportunity came in the 19th minute, when Roderick Miller’s header struck the post and came straight at custodian Camilo Vargas, who knocked it away.

In the 41st minute, Colombia scored through a set piece as Luis Díaz beat Mosquera.

“Just one glance suffices to determine what kind of foot James has. When he noticed me, I finished the pass. That was an excellent objective. “We hope to keep winning for the fans and we are very in sync,” Díaz said.

Colombia slowed down in the second half in an attempt to control the match and win, but they were still the far better team.

In the 70th minute, Richard Ríos scored their fourth goal, utilising the confusion in the Panamanian ranks following a foul to fire a low shot that took Mosquera by surprise.

When defender José Córdoba clashed with Santiago Arias just inside the box during stoppage time, Colombia was awarded a clear penalty, which substitute Miguel Borja converted with the game’s last kick, demonstrating Panama’s dissatisfaction with the process.

Colombia has now gone 27 games without a loss; their most recent loss came against Argentina in February 2022.

On Wednesday, Colombia will compete in their semifinal game in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tournament’s final Concacaf squad, Canada, will play the defending winners, Argentina, in the other semifinal on Tuesday in New Jersey.

Panama had a fantastic run in the competition, winning 2-1 over Concacaf rivals and the hosts, the United States, before the setback.

It surpassed their group stage exit on their 2016 debut as their greatest performance at the Copa América.

“I’m extremely proud of my players and their accomplishments during this Copa América,” Thomas Christiansen, the coach of Panama, stated to the media.

“Obviously, nobody enjoys losing, particularly by a score of five, but we must commend the players for this Copa América. Although it did not turn out the way we had anticipated, it was nonetheless a learning experience.