ARGENTINA flexed their muscles in World Cup qualifying and eased past a lacklustre Columbia side.
The result only adds to Columbia’s woes as the visitors fail to score for the seventh group game running.
Meanwhile, it takes Lionel Scaloni’s side to an incredible 29 games unbeaten in all competitions.
Lautaro Martinez’s goal separated the two sides at the break as Columbia sat back and allowed Argentina to control proceedings.
A cross from the Marcos Acuna made it’s way through to Martinez, who slotted home into the bottom corner past Vargas.
Classy performances by Giovani Lo Celso and Angel Di Maria in the midfield helped the Argentines dominate possession.
And Acuna was tireless down the left hand flank.
Columbia nearly scored a shock equaliser with the last kick of the first period but it was hoofed off the line by a last-gasp clearance.
The second half only saw more control from the home side and the crowd started to enjoy the cruising nature of the performance.
Columbia barely troubled Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez in the Argentina goal.
Emi Buendia came on for his competitive debut, the cherry on the cake for the winning side.
- TV channel: Premier Sports 2
- Argentina starting XI: Emiliano Martinez, Montiel, Lisandro Martinez, Pezzella, Acuna, Di Maria, Ocampos, Gomez, Rodriguez, Lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez
- Columbia starting XI: Vargas, Mojica, Tesillo, Sanchez, Medina; Uribe, Barrios, Diaz, Rodriguez, Cuadrado, Borja
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Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
Goodnight from Cordoba
In the end, Argentina were too classy for Columbia and their goal-drought.
We hope you enjoyed tonight’s live blog.
Goodnight from all of us at SunSport.
Argentina go 29 games unbeaten
Where they stand
The victory puts Argentina a single point behind Brazil, however the Brazilians are currently 1-0 up against Paraguay late in their game.
Meanwhile, Columbia fall way behind of the top four automatic qualifying places.
They are now five points short of fourth placed Uruguay, providing they lose to Brazil.
Peru sit in the fifth-place playoff spot with a game in-hand over tonight’s goalless visitors.
Credit: FIFA
It’s over – Argentina 1-0 Columbia
Fireworks are let off over the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes as the players shake hands.
That’s SEVEN World Cup qualifiers without a goal for Columbia.
But Argentina are jubilant, that’s 29 consecutive games unbeaten for them!
Credit: AP Argentina 1-0 Columbia
90 +3. Dybala hits the frame of the goal from a dipping free-kick.
Argentina counter a Columbia attack, Gonzalez is through on goal but he tries to slide in Dybala but it’s too soft.
The seconds count down the to end of the game now.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
90 +1. Columbia very nearly score! Nearly an own goal as Gonzalez forces a save out of his own goalkeeper.
But it’s given offside anyway.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
90. FOUR minutes of stoppage time added on.
Columbia play the ball out from the back and then launch it forward.
Will they create a goal scoring chance here in injury time?
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
87. Wonderful skill from Diaz. Columbia attack.
Cuadrado drives into the box and is bundled over by Acuna but it’s alleged to be clean.
This is better from Columbia late on.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
84. Tesillo heads over the bar from a corner.
Good effort by him and it looked like it was going to drop into the far corner for a moment.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
83. Is this over or can the Columbians steal a goal here?
Mojica wins a corner.
Credit: AP Argentina 1-0 Columbia
81. Free-kick in a dangerous position on the edge of the box for Argentina but it’s straight at the wall.
Dybala sends the resulting corner in, attacked by Lucas Quarta but it’s mistimed.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
78. Ex-Norwich City star Emi Buendia makes his first competitive appearance for his nation.
He replaces Lo Celso, who seems buoyed by his move to Villareal.
OFF Lo Celso
On Buendia
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
76. Falcao on for the visitors, searching for a goal to keep them in the hunt for the top four automatic qualification spots.
OFF Borja
ON Falcao
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
73. Great one-two by Acuna and Dybala in the Columbian penalty area but the shot from Acuna is blocked.
Acuna is still getting well forward despite it being late in the game.
Lo Celso smashes it JUST over the crossbar from distance after the resulting corner.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
68. Wouldn’t you know it… Argentina make a substitute and it’s Angel Di Maria going off!
It’s been a pleasure to watch the 33-year-old PSG star this evening.
OFF Di Maria
OFF Lautaro Martinez
ON Gonzalez
ON Dybala
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
66. Angel Di Maria has been absolutely fantastic tonight.
So much skill in the middle of the park, beats players, creates in the final third and has hit two long range efforts to force saves from Vargas.
Credit: Getty Argentina 1-0 Columbia
64. Great strike from long range from Di Maria again!
Fantastic save low to his right from goalkeeper Vargas.
That was flying right into the bottom corner.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
62. Columbia show some fight over on the left hand touchline but give away the ball from the resulting free-kick.
There’s a bit more urgency about the Columbians in this second half so far.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
58. Argentina have bought on Meza to try and get a second.
Ocampos off, thought he had a decent game. Saying that, the whole team have looked classy.
OFF Ocampos
ON Meza
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
57. Columbia make changes to try and get a break through.
OFF Rodriguez
OFF Uribe
ON Suarez
ON Cantillo
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
52. Ocampos loses the ball, sprints 20 yards to win it back but clumsily takes down the Columbian attacker.
Borja is down again, in an unrelated incident to the Ocampos one.
He’s holding his shoulder, injured in the first half it looks to be giving him trouble.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
50. Borja does well to win a corner for Columbia.
Martinez comes out to claim.
The Villa goalie only had to make one save in the first half.
Argentina 1-0 Columbia
47. Back underway here at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.
Drilled goalward by Acuna but it’s too close to Vargas who saves easily.
Half time – Argentina 1-0 Columbia
There’s the half time whistle and a dominating half of football from Argentina is over.
Lautaro Martinez’s goal separates the two sides at the break.
Columbia nearly scored a shock equalizer but it was cleared off the line by the Argentina defence.
Credit: Reuters Argentina 1-0 Columbia
44. Acuna is booked as he fouls Cuadrado.
Diaz links up with Borja and Columbia nearly score!
Then Diaz flicks it in towards goal but it’s cleared off the line!
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
