This time Colombia celebrated. This time Argentina was the one who was angry. It’s true: there’s no comparison. The opposite scene had been drawn less than two months ago in the final of the Copa America in the United States. This match does not have the same significance, of course. It is a South American qualifying match. However, James Rodriguez and company enjoy it because it has many meanings: a bit of revenge (although it is not the same), consolidation towards the 2026 World Cup and the certainty that the path chosen by the DT Nestor Lorenzo is the right one. Not everyone can beat the Scaloneta.
With Chile, at the Monumental, last week, Argentina had not felt the absence of Lionel Messi (injured) and of Angel Di Maria (he decided to close his cycle with the national team). This time, in Barranquilla, against a tougher rival and in an adverse scenario, the albiceleste did miss the 10 and the 11. Argentina, although it tried, although it showed personality, did not have offensive lucidity, and much less individual inspirations like those that were delivered Leo and Noodle.
James puts it in and Mosquera opens the scoring
Lionel Scaloni He had stressed in the pre-match press conference that Argentina had to pay close attention to plays with the ball stopped in defence due to Colombia’s aerial power. And the coach who caused a historic revolution in the Albiceleste was right.
It was from a corner that the signing who has not yet made his debut for Rayo Vallecano, the MVP of the last Copa América, appeared. He emerged in his prime James Rodriguez to lift the head and put in an exact center for the entry with pure power and height of Yerson Mosquera, who swept the race to Lisandro Martinez and nailed the 1-0 with a header, with Drawing Martinez overcome and with Cuti Romero and Nicolas Otamendi looking.
Argentina, without fluency
The first half was 25 minutes in. Until then, Argentina was closer to scoring, having forced Colombia to make a couple of mistakes at the start with high and intense pressure. Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.
The world champion did not suffer in the hot and heavy Barranquilla. He controlled the Luis Diaz with the mark of Gonzalo Montiel, included as a starter precisely so as not to suffer with the Liverpool striker. The midfield made up of Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Gonzalez. And above the double 9 made up of Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez He ran to block every attempt designed from below by the selection of Nestor Lorenzo.
Although he later came closer with a half turn of Lautaro from above and with some crosses, Argentina did not find much fluidity in the construction after the goal. And Colombia, with the precision of James, took that slight advantage.
Nico Gonzalez ties the game
As if to show that in addition to playing very well and boasting a range of multiple virtues, Argentina also has a special angel, Jamesthat talent that almost never fails a pass, this time made a mistake with a back pass and found himself with a Nico Gonzalez unstoppable, who swept the race and resolved it with a touch between the goalkeeper’s legs.
James scores from penalty, impossible for Dibu
Just as Argentina tied it at the start of the second half, Colombia immediately exhibited a reaction and shouted again with a penalty-VAR executed by James, with a majestic class, powerful, up, crossed, deceiving a specialist like Drawwho leaned back on the other side.
Argentina continued to have more intensity than clarity. That’s why Scaloni, that already at half-time had put to Nahuel Molina by the admonished Montielopted for various modifications to gain lucidity and surprise: Marcos Acuña by Lisandro Martinez, Alexis Mac Allister for Paredes and Giovani Lo Celso for De Paul. However, it was striking that he appealed to Paulo Dybala (by Enzo Fernández) just in the 84th minute.
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Colombia had three chances against Draw ideals, but he did not exploit them. Lautaro He had a one-on-one, but it took a while and was lost. And nothing changed. The Metropolitano de Barranquilla was a party. This time Colombia enjoyed it.
COLOMBIA
21
ARGENTINA
Colombia: Camilo Vargas; Daniel Munoz, Yerson Mosquera (m.88, Juan David Cabal), Jhon Lucumí, Johan Mojica; Jefferson Lerma, Richard Rios, Jhon Arias (m.79, Kevin Castaño), James Rodriguez (m.90+3, Juan Camilo Portilla); Luis Diaz and Jhon Jader Duran (m.79, Jhon Cordoba).
Selector: Nestor Lorenzo.
Argentina: Emiliano Martinez; Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez (m.64, Marcos Acuna), Nicolas Otamendi; Gonzalo Montiel (m.46, Nahuel Molina), Enzo Fernandez (m.85, Paulo Dybala), Rodrigo de Paul (m.74, Gio Lo Celso), Leandro Paredes (m.64, Alexis Mac Allister), Nicolas Gonzalez; Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez.
Selector: Lionel Scaloni.
Referee: Chilean Piero Maza cautioned Gonzalo Montiel, Jhon Jader Durán and Camilo Vargas.
Goals: 1-0, m.25: Yerson Mosquera. 1-1, m.47: Nicolas Gonzalez. 2-1, m.60: James Rodriguez
Incidents: Match of the eighth day of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup played at the Metropolitan Stadium in Barranquilla.
See match sheet
