Mueez Ajao
– Argentina extended their unbeaten run to 29 games on Tuesday when they beat a toothless Colombia 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
– Lautaro Martinez got the only goal of an untidy game after 29 minutes when he took advantage of slack defending to rifle home from inside the penalty area.
– The top four teams in the South American section qualify automatically for Qatar and the fifth-placed side goes into a playoff with a team from the Asian confederation.
Also Read: World Cup qualifiers: Di Maria stars as Argentina edge Chile
– Brazil and Argentina have already qualified and Ecuador’s 24 points mean they are almost certain to join them.
– The result leaves Colombia in seventh place in the 10-team table with 17 points, five points behind Uruguay, two behind Chile, and three behind Peru, who could strengthen their position further with a win over Ecuador later on Tuesday.
– The match brought together a home side that had not lost a goal in their last four home matches and a Colombian team that had not scored in their last six qualifiers.
– Both runs were extended in a game that Argentina controlled without ever looking like they were in top gear.
– “No matter who plays nothing changes,” said winger Angel Di Maria. “We remain the same, with the same mentality.”
– “We show sacrifice and humility. Today we knew we’d face a difficult game and we were able to do what we had to do and move forward.”
– The home side were without Lionel Messi, who was rested after a recent bout with COVID-19, and influential midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, but Martinez and Di Maria assumed the responsibility and the attacking mantle.
– “A lot was said about the players who were missing, that we weren’t at full strength,” goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez said. “But we demonstrated that we are not 11 but a really strong group.”
– Di Maria was a threat throughout with his long-range shooting, and caused problems for Colombia’s second-string keeper Camilo Vargas.
– Colombia’s best chance came in first half stoppage time when Luis Diaz had a shot kicked off the line.
– In the night’s earlier games, Chile beat Bolivia 3-2 away and Uruguay ran out 4-1 winners over Venezuela in Montevideo.
