Argentina, looking to right their sinking ship, paid a visit to Barranquilla to face a Colombia team missing both Falcao Garcia and Fredy Guarin, whose absences made Argentina the favorite to win. Early on, the play was predominantly in Argentina's attacking third, with Lionel Messiin particular troubling the Colombian backline. However, Argentina's Nicolas Burdisso went down with an injury with fifteen minutes or so left to go in the first half, and once he was substituted, Colombia began dominating the possession. A free kick at the end of regular time, a Dorlan Pabon free kick from one yard outside the penalty area was deflected in for an own goal by Argentina's Javier Mascherano, though the goal was credited to Pabon. Otherwise, the ball would have been easily saved. Colombia lead 1-0 at the half, much as they had against Venezuela in the same stadium four days earlier.Argentina certainly did not want to be in the position where they would have to answer to angry Argentine media after failing to win in three consecutive qualifiers, so they called upon the world's best player to bring them a victory. Lionel Messi (pictured, blue and white) ran the ball up the Colombia defense, pushed a pass out wide, and followed the play to slot home a rebound at the hour mark to level the affair at one-goal apiece. Then, with just six minutes left in regular time, Messi again dribbled through multiple defenders before unveiling a beautiful pass that should have led to an assist. This time, however, the rebound fell to Sergio Aguero, who knocked it home for a much-needed 2-1 road victory for Argentina. Colombia were heartbroken and now look out of sorts after failing to win at home this week in two opportunities.
Goals
Argentina
Lionel Messi 60
Sergio Aguero 84
Colombia
Dorlan Pabon 45
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