Lautaro Martinez scored the lone goal of the match in the 29th minute to earn all three points for Argentina, who have already sealed qualification for Qatar 2022.
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Argentina has extended its unbeaten run to 29 games after 1-0 win against Colombia in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers in Cordoba on Tuesday. Lautaro Martinez scored the lone goal of the match in the 29th minute to earn all three points for Argentina, who have already sealed qualification for Qatar 2022. The win helped La Albiceleste to 35 points from 15 qualifiers, with 13 wins from their last 15 games. Argentina were missing talisman Lionel Messi but welcomed head coach Lionel Scaloni back to the touchline after recovering from COVID-19.
¡Argentina sigue sumando! ➕3⃣
La Albiceleste superó 1-0 a Colombia y logró otra victoria para agrandar su invicto ?
?? 1 ? 0 ??
⚽?? L. Martínez#EliminatoriasSudamericanas pic.twitter.com/TvdHkLWoEP
— CONMEBOL.com (@CONMEBOL) February 2, 2022
Meanwhile Colombia will need a miracle to play in the 2022 FIFA World cup after their fifth loss in the South American qualifiers. The defeat has left them languishing at the seventh spot with 17 points from 16 games, five points adrift the top four. The top four teams qualify directly to the World Cup finals while the fifth-placed side will play a play-off match.
Argentina’s defense once again was stubborn and they managed to create a decent number of chances at the other end. It was La Albiceleste’s fifth clean sheet from their last five home qualifiers. Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas made several important saves, including three shots by veteran winger Angel di Maria.
The Paris-Saint Germain winger curled a 16th-minute effort just wide of Vargas before the hosts put their nose ahead in the 29th minute. Martinez trapped Acuna’s cross inside the box and lashed home under the goalkeeper’s grasp. It was the Inter Milan striker’s 19th international goal.
Colombia almost leveled on the stroke of half-time, with Luis Diaz setting up Miguel Borja, who was denied by Emiliano Martinez. The new Liverpool signing’s follow-up effort was cleared off the line by German Pezzella. Acuna forced a good save from Vargas early in the second half, while Vargas denied Di Maria with his outstretched right arm in the 65th minute.
Giovani Lo Celso flashed an effort over the crossbar as Argentina survived a late scare from Johan Mojico’s shot which almost caused a Nicolas Gonzalez own goal, although that wouldn’t have counted due to offside.
Uruguay leapfrogged Peru and Chile into fourth spot in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualification standings after thrashing Venezuela 4-1 at Centenario on Tuesday. New Tottenham signing Rodrigo Bentancur put Uruguay ahead with a superb long-range effort inside the opening minute.
Diego Alonso’s side doubled the lead in the 23rd minute as Giorgian De Arrascaera tapped home from a square ball provided by Facuno Pellistri. Edinson Cavani made the score 3-0 just before the break, with a superb bicycle kick finish into an empty net before his strike partner Luis Suarez added a fourth from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.
Meanwhile the visitors scored a consolation goal through Josef Martinez in the 65th minute. The win helped Uruguay to 22 points from 16 games, just one point ahead of fifth-placed Peru.
