James Rodriguez delivered an important efficiency, changing a penalty and aiding a purpose to steer Colombia to an exhilarating 2-1 victory over defending champion Argentina in Tuesday’s South American World Cup qualifier.
Argentina, with out its injured star Lionel Messi, fell brief in Barranquilla within the groups’ first encounter because the Copa America ultimate.
Yerson Mosquera opened the scoring within the twenty fifth minute, however Argentina equalized within the forty eighth when Nico Gonzalez capitalized on a defensive blunder by Colombia.
Rodriguez’s Sixtieth-minute penalty, awarded after a video evaluation, secured the win at Metropolitano Stadium.
World Cup champion Argentina lifted the Copa América trophy after a 1-0 additional time victory over Colombia in July.
Colombia, which hadn’t crushed Argentina since 2019, stays unbeaten in South American World Cup qualifying.
Argentina leads the round-robin competitors with 18 factors after eight matches, two factors forward of Colombia.
Also on Tuesday, Bolivia upset Chile 2-1 in Santiago, and Ecuador beat Peru 1-0. Venezuela vs. Uruguay and Paraguay vs. Brazil have been nonetheless to play.
The prime six groups in South American qualifying will safe automated spots on the 2026 World Cup.
Colombia as soon as once more had the 33-year-old Rodriguez to thank after he supplied an ideal cross for Mosquera to move in, opening the scoring. That help tied Carlos Valderrama’s file of 11 assists in South American World Cup qualifying.
A mistake by Rodriguez allowed Argentina to equalize, with Gonzalez stealing the ball from him and scoring previous goalkeeper Camilo Vargas.
Rodriguez redeemed himself by beating Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez, a prolific penalty stopper, and matching Radamel Falcao Garcia’s tally of 13 objectives in World Cup qualifying.
Argentina’s strikers Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez failed to supply as a lot risk as they do when veteran Messi is there to create alternatives.
Source: www.dailysabah.com