Argentina lost against Colombia 2–1 in Barranquilla on Tuesday on the eighth date of the South American Qualifiers. The game ended on a controversial note with the Albiceleste protesting a penalty kick the VAR granted the local team after the referee had initially failed to sanction it.
With this win, Colombia managed to partially avenge the Copa America final defeat against Argentina in the United States last July.
Colombia opened the score thanks to a header by Yerson Mosquera in the first half after an assist by captain James Rodríguez. Playing under a scorching 32º Celsius heat and without captain Lionel Messi, Argentina managed to even the score in the early minutes of the second half. A major mistake by the Colombian defense allowed forward Nicolas Gonzalez to grab the ball and take goalie Vargas full on to score the 1–1.
Shortly after, Chilean referee Piero Maza called a penalty kick for Colombia after a VAR review on a controversial foul by Nicolás Otamendi on Daniel Muñoz. James Rodriguez’s solid kick from the penalty point put the score 2–1 in their favor.
The Albiceleste spent the rest of the match trying to even the score and managed to create some dangerous situations, including one by Lautaro Martínez, who failed at the last second by slipping in the goal area before he could get the ball to go in.
Colombia had a final chance to score again at the 71 minute mark when Jhon Durán got by Marcos Acuña, but Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez saved the Argentine goal. Colombia remains undefeated in the Qualifiers and is now second with 16 points, behind Argentina with 18.
Captain Lionel Messi will return for the ninth Qualifiers date when Argentina is set to face local Venezuela on October 10th in Monagas. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s team will then play Bolivia, five days later in Argentina, on October 15.