The 2 groups got here into the match in Cordoba trending in reverse instructions, and after 90 minutes of play, they continued on these trajectories as a Lautaro Martinez aim despatched Argentina residence with a 1-0 win over Colombia.
The guests got here into the match desperately needing a consequence, and whereas they emptied the tank preserving Argentina from completely pummeling Camilo Vargas’s internet, Los Cafeteros have been overwhelmed for many of the match. The primary half was particularly dominant from Argentina, with Angel Di Maria enjoying the Lionel Messi function.
Messi’s PSG teammate was the perfect participant on the pitch, pulling the strings and coming near scoring on a few events.
For Colombia, the state of affairs is now extraordinarily dire. It sits seventh within the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying desk, three factors out of fifth place, which can reward a staff with a spot in an intercontinental playoff to be performed in June.
Extra worrisome is that Colombia is caught in a debilitating 646-minute goalless streak that has crippled its possibilities of reaching the 2022 World Cup. It was one other listless efficiency, and whereas Colombia improved because the second half wore on, the Cafeteros had only one strong probability in entrance of internet, and Emiliano ‘Dibu’ Martinez squashed any hopes of breaking the duck.
Argentina vs. Colombia remaining rating
| 1H | 2H | Ultimate | |
| Argentina | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Colombia | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Targets:
twenty ninth min. — ARG — Lautaro Martinez
Ultimate: Argentina 1, Colombia 0
Argentina proved its dominance with a complete victory, and needing simply Lautaro Martinez’s first-half aim to see it out. Whereas the hosts will want that they had created extra clear-cut probabilities, they end the 90 minutes with their twenty ninth straight match with out a loss, the longest energetic streak on the planet.
Colombia’s horrid run continues, now as much as 646 minutes with out a World Cup qualifying aim. It was all the time an uphill battle for the guests in Cordoba, however nonetheless, given the outcomes across the continent, it is a devastating loss. Los Cafeteros now sit three factors again of the intercontinental playoff spot (fifth place) with simply two matches remaining in March. Uruguay, Chile, and Peru will battle it out for the ultimate two spots, whereas Colombia sits in seventh with only a prayer. They’ve matches remaining in opposition to two groups beneath them within the standings, which is a lift, however Colombia will want a whole lot of assist from elsewhere to qualify.
94th min.: Probability, Argentina! Paulo Dybala is totally devoid of confidence. He is fed in fantastically by Gonzalez on the break, however trots to the ball as an alternative of charging onto it, and it is cleared by Colombia. That is an unlimited miss to complete off the match. Dybala simply appears to be like off the tempo.
92nd min.: Emiliano Martinez has an enormous smile on his face, and has amusing, as Argentina is saved from an extremely embarrassing second by the offside flag. Nicolas Gonzalez tried to clear the ball within the aim mouth, and ended up hitting it straight into the crossbar. It got here straight down and Martinez by some means snatched the ball earlier than it bounced over the road. Three Colombia gamers have been miles offside although, so it does not matter.
84th min.: The truth that Colombia is only a aim down right here will give them hope regardless of how this recreation has progressed. Maxi Meza makes a superb sliding sort out to disclaim a cross from the left, and the following nook goes shut off the top of Tesillo, looping huge of the far put up.
eightieth min.: Time for Emiliano Buendia to get an opportunity, changing Lo Celso, who will get a giant hand. The printed names Angel Di Maria as Man of the Match. It is Buendia’s debut for the senior aspect.
Davinson Sanchez completely pulverizes Gonzalez on the very fringe of the penalty space, producing a harmful free-kick for Argentina. Shocking the cardboard wasn’t proven: That was a really exhausting foul by a defender who was crushed by his man. Meza’s set-piece goes into the wall and out for a nook. Dybala with one other good nook, to the top of recent substitute Lucas Quarta, however his header does not make it by way of the timber.
74th min.: Good little one-two for Argentina works a shot for Acuna that is deflected out for a nook. Dybala’s supply is a good one, and Colombia clears solely so far as Lo Celso who rips a volley, however it tails huge left. Lo Celso has had a superb match. He is not given Tottenham this type of efficiency his whole Spurs profession.
Colombia, in the meantime, has gone previous 10.5 hours with out a World Cup qualifying aim. Falcao comes on making an attempt to vary that, changing Borja, whereas Cuellar takes off Barrios. Suarez booked.
67th min.: The stadium in Cordoba provides a roar as Angel Di Maria comes off, changed by Paulo Dybala. German Pezzella takes the armband with Di Maria coming off. Nicolas Gonzalez comes on for Lautaro Martinez as effectively, as Scaloni switches up the assault to get a take a look at a brand new group.
Colombia makes one other substitution with Diego Valoyes approaching for John Medina at proper again. Cuadrado’s carried out many of the work down that flank up to now.
sixty fifth min.: Probability, Argentina! For the second time within the match, out of nothing, Di Maria comes very, very shut. With the ball on the high of the field and practically standing nonetheless, no person closes him down, so he has a go, and it forces a stellar diving save from Colombian ‘keeper Camilo Vargas.
63rd min.: Argentina not asserting practically the dominance it did within the first half. Colombia appears to be like reinvigorated. Argentina coughs it up on a poor 2-v-2 transition alternative that sees Di Maria and Lautaro fail to hyperlink up. Lautaro says “my dangerous.”
57th min.: Argentina seems to be getting ready the sport’s first substitute, however Colombia strikes first. James Rodriguez comes off after shedding possession a whopping 11 occasions in lower than an hour, with simply 20 accomplished passes. It is Luis Suarez (not that one) to return on in his place. Colombia additionally swaps Mateus Uribe for Victor Cantillo.
Argentina takes off Luis Ocampos, and far to Paulo Dybala’s dismay, it is Maxi Meza to return on, making his first look because the 2018 World Cup. Montiel earns a yellow card for a foul on Mojica. Each he and Acuna (booked within the first half) have triggered suspensions for yellow card accumulation and can miss the subsequent match, in opposition to Venezuela in March.
52nd min.: The guests have come out of halftime with a renewed vigor. We’ll see how lengthy it lasts. Cuadrado has been closely concerned.
A Colombia nook involves nothing, however it was a high quality supply into the realm, touchdown proper on the penalty spot earlier than Argentina clears with an aerial header.
forty sixth minute: Again below manner for the second half. No subs for Colombia, buoyed by that probability late within the first half. This is video of Marcos Acuna giving his shirt to a fan as he heads into halftime, which is cool.
Halftime: Argentina 1, Colombia 0
After 45 minutes of dominance from Argentina, the hosts deservedly lead on Lautaro Martinez’s aim. Nonetheless, there will likely be a really awkward feeling within the Argentinian locker room on the break.
For all of the strain Argentina produced — which was constant and smothering — simply the one-goal lead means one second from Colombia may wreck issues, and the guests practically did simply that on the stroke of halftime. That will likely be a warning signal for Argentina, which has been fabulous defensively throughout this qualifying cycle, however it’s lacking a variety of key regulars, together with defenders Nicolas Otamendi and Nicolas Tagliafico.
45+1 min.: Probability, Colombia! WHAT A SAVE BY ARGENTINA’S HERO ‘DIBU’ MARTINEZ! Colombia was clear by way of after some surprising defending by Argentina, however Martinez confidently comes out to smother earlier than Borja can get the shot off. Then, on the follow-up, Diaz has a slow-roller cleared off the road by Pezzella. Colombia will not get lots of these, and that one was wasted. Borja has to do higher with the preliminary effort, he was completely by way of.
Martinez reprising his function from the Copa America semifinals in opposition to Colombia.
forty fourth min.: First yellow card of the match goes to Argentina’s Marcos Acuna who wins the ball however went by way of Cuadrado to get it. It appears harsh, the contact was very minimal. If something, only a foul. However as a result of it was on a counter, the referee reveals a warning.
thirty eighth min.: Argentina is blitzing the Colombia field once more. Stunning mixture play down the appropriate works a cross for a wide-open Montiel, however he blasts his supply right into a defender. Nonetheless, the hosts flood the field, and after some chaos Colombia clears. This can be a one-sided affair for the time being, with 70 p.c possession to Argentina, which sports activities a 92 p.c cross success price and 5 photographs to Colombia’s one.
thirty third min.: Probability, Argentina! It appears like issues are on the verge of completely falling aside for Colombia. Davinson Sanchez steps in recklessly on Lo Celso exterior the highest of the penalty space, which leads to a harmful free-kick. Di Maria’s effort is vicious, however it’s too close to the middle of the aim, and Vargas produces a superb save.
twenty ninth min.: GOAL! Argentina! There’s the deserved breakthrough. A cross from the left by Marcos Acuna goes over Colombian defender William Tesillo who received sucked ahead, and that left Lautaro Martinez all by himself. His low end wasn’t terribly spectacular, and Camilo Vargas even received a hand to it on the dive, however it nonetheless has sufficient energy to search out the again of the online.
Colombia simply can not preserve the ball. Argentina is urgent very excessive and exhausting, and it’s very smothering Los Cafeteros. The guests miss Yerry Mina, who’s suspended for yellow card accumulation, bringing Tesillo into the beginning lineup.
twenty sixth min.: A really nasty conflict of heads with Lisandro Martinez has Miguel Borja down. The replay is tough to look at. The Colombian took by far the worst of that collison. He is up and strolling slowly to the sidelines with medical employees. We’ll see how that impacts the guests.
Borja comes again on quickly after the restart.
twenty second min.: Colombia has an excellent alternative on the break, and a beautiful Cuadrado layoff practically works a shot by way of the center, however Argentina tracks again extraordinarily rapidly to finish the prospect earlier than the ball might be despatched in the direction of internet. Glorious transition protection by the hosts.
sixteenth min.: Probability, Argentina! Oh, what a aim that may have been. A Colombia turnover on the Argentine proper flank ends in a quick-trigger shot from Di Maria, who places his roller simply huge. Beat the goalkeeper, beat the put up. Very shut. Classic Di Maria on show right now.
fifteenth min.: Colombia lastly has a sniff of the attacking third because of nice work down the left by Miguel Borja, and his feed to Luis Diaz ends in a shot from exterior the highest of the field that is deflected out for a Colombia nook. The set-piece involves nothing. Promising, however thus far far too little to show significant.
twelfth min.: The hosts practically pull off a very audacious transfer down the appropriate, as Lo Celso fed a bonkers lengthy ball excessive to Gonzalo Montiel, however his cross goes flying over the penalty space to no person. Argentina is de facto turning the screw. It isn’t exhausting to see why Colombia has struggled this qualification cycle. It isn’t a tactical determination to play with out the ball, they’re clearly second-best.
ninth min.: Argentina has seen a whole lot of the ball early, and appears energetic, however hasn’t created a lot because the early Ocampos effort.
sixth min.: Di Maria is hacked on the appropriate flank. He appears to be like very full of life early on. Then Luis Diaz is taken down for Colombia. Abilities & fouls. Yep, it is CONMEBOL!
third min.: Argentina with loads of early possession, and Lucas Ocampos rips the sport’s first shot miles over the bar. Good defending by Colombia as he minimize in from the left, however cannot get a lot room to settle the shot. Di Maria with some gorgeous expertise to open up the prospect, together with a spin transfer to get free.
1st min.: And we’re underway! Colombia wants a consequence within the worst manner. There may be zero strain on Argentina, however kind heading into the World Cup is vital, and there’s that 28-match unbeaten streak to guard.