‘We still got the win’: Argentina fans celebrate in North Beach but lament Messi’s injury

The Copa America final got off to a rocky start Sunday night, with the 8 p.m. game being delayed after soccer fans breached the entrance to Hard Rock Stadium, leading police to temporarily lock the gates.

Fans who didn’t have tickets to the game gravitated to watch parties across Miami to cheer on Argentina or Colombia.

There was a packed house at Gramps in Wynwood as the game finally began more than an hour after the original start time. The bar was full of the Colombian team’s supporters as they proudly sang the country’s national anthem.

By kickoff, Manolo — a bakery and restaurant in the part of North Beach known as Little Buenos Aires — was at capacity, with some Argentina fans outside peeking through the windows to catch the action as the game started.

Argentina won the game 1-0 shortly after midnight, a victory that had fans in North Beach out on the streets.

READ MORE: Argentina wins record 16th Copa America title with 1-0 extra time thriller over Colombia

12:15 a.m.: With Argentina’s 1-0 win in the Copa America final, fans are crowding on Collins Avenue in North Beach waving Argentinian flags.

“The match was so tense. It was such a good game on both sides,” said fan Francesca Lucano. “When we got the goal at the end, [I] was screaming. We were so scared because anything can happen.”

“It was a great match,” said another fan, Priyankar Garai. “I’m sad that Messi got injured, but that’s how the game is. We still got the win.”

12:08 a.m.: Colombia fans begin to leave Gramps in Wynwood as Argentina seems primed to win.

12:01 a.m.: Fans in North Beach erupted as Argentina scored the first goal of the match in extra time.

11:59 p.m.: Spirits remained high for Colombia fans at Gramps right up until Argentina scored a goal. Despite the goal, they continued to cheer in support.

The score is now 1-0, Argentina.

“I hope Colombia comes back, given Messi is out of the game,” said Matthew Andrade, 44, a Colombia fan who hasn’t lost hope.

11:34 p.m.: With another crosser from Argentina coming short, fans continued to be frustrated by the missed opportunities to score. Yells and groans erupted simultaneously in North Beach.

11:18 p.m.: As Nicolas Gonzalez’s header barely misses the net, fans at Manolo are getting impatient with the team’s lack of offense.

11:09 p.m.: After initial celebrations, Argentina fans at Manolo have gone silent after learning Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes’ goal was counted as offsides. The game remains at 0-0.

As the game remains closely contested, Argentina fans are still crowding around and watching the game closely on Collins Avenue.

11:07 p.m.: The crowd of mostly Colombia fans at Gramps erupts after they think the referee called a goal. They still cheer for Colombia after the shot doesn’t count.

10:58 p.m.: With Lionel Messi down again, huge groans can be heard at the Argentina watch party at Manolo in North Beach. Expecting Messi to be out for the rest of the game, fans are on the edge of their seats, with many letting out yells.

10:45 p.m.: Chicago resident Zack Pirrello, 36, planned his bachelor party around the final Copa America game in Miami.

“We came here with the intention of watching the game,” said his friend Kristan Barnes, 38. “But once tickets went over $700, we realized maybe it wasn’t for us.”

The group found themselves at Gramps to watch the game instead.

“We’re having a great time here,” Pirrello said. “ The atmosphere and crowd are amazing, and Colombia is playing fantastic.”

“I am not a Messi fan, so I am rooting for Colombia,” Barnes added.

10:39 p.m.: As the second half kicks off, Argentinian fans are becoming visibly frustrated as Argentina isn’t able to capitalize on several offensive chances. At Manolo, the restaurant in North Beach, there were many groans from the crowd, with several people yelling, “Vamos!”

The second half has ratcheted up with intensity, as both teams have come close to scoring their first goal. Inside the restaurant, there’s constant yelling and drums being played.

10:16 p.m.: At halftime, the score is 0-0 after an overall uneventful first half.

According to Juan Clemente, an Argentinian fan, the team is struggling to generate momentum against Colombia.

“It’s looking pretty even so far,” Clemente said. “Colombia is a really good team, but Argentina is keeping up. It’s anybody’s ballgame.”

9:58 p.m.: With Argentina’s Lionel Messi appearing to be injured, fans at Manolo have fallen silent.

9:40 p.m.: In Wynwood, Andrea Davila, 30, was upset that the game had been postponed but said she was still proud to be able to see her home country of Colombia play.

“I think we can represent ourselves better, but I’m still proud to be here,” said Davila. “It’s fun to be here with my friends rather than just stay home.”

READ MORE: Fans breach security gates at Hard Rock Stadium, delaying start of Copa America final

Friends Daniela Pardo and Elena Zapata came out to Wynwood because they said if Colombia wins, they wanted to be among the crowd celebrating. They stumbled into Gramps after saying that it was packed everywhere else.

Pardo is from Colombia but has lived in the United States for 24 years. She says that for her and many other Colombians, getting to see Colombia play in the Copa America final is something they’ve been waiting for for a long time.

“I’m excited to see them win. It’s been a lot of years since we’ve been in a final like this,” said Pardo. “But I feel fine if they don’t win; I’m here for the fun of the game and to feel like I’m back in Colombia.”

Jack Carenza is neither Colombian nor Argentinian but calls himself a huge soccer fan and hopes to see Colombia take home the win.

“I coach soccer, and I’ve been playing my whole life. I love it in all shapes and forms,” said Carenza, who coaches at Centner Academy. “Colombia is technically the underdog in this game, so it’d be nice to see some fresh blood win who haven’t won any major tournaments in a while.”

For Brian and Silvia McKell, both longtime Argentina soccer fans, the excitement about being around other fans brought them out to Manolo in North Beach. Silvia McKell said she has been a fan since the 1978 World Cup and believes Argentina will take home the championship 2-1.

Dario Cimetta, of Coral Springs, and Alberto Sosa, from Palm Beach, said they drove more than an hour and a half to come to Manolo.

“We come here because of the energy,” Cimetta said. “We’re both from New York, and this is as close to being in New York and celebrating the final.”

Sosa said he hoped that having the Copa America final in Miami would help U.S. sports fans would better understand international soccer culture.

“America has hosted the World Cup before, but I think with the people and the talent you have on the field right now, it’s only going to increase the level of soccer in America,” he said.