Argentina and Colombia tied at zero in the return of Messi

Last update 8 June, 2013 by Julio Muñoz

Argentina and Colombia sealed a goalless draw today, that keeps the Albiceleste team as the leader of the South American qualifiers and the Colombian team in the qualification zone for the World Cup in Brazil 2014. With this tie, Argentina reached the 25 points, and 52 percent of the units in dispute and was on the verge of qualifying, while Colombia added 20.

The match at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires was the number 90 for the captains of both teams, Javier Mascherano and Mario Alberto Yepes. The home team, who started the match for the first time in these qualifiers with Lionel Messi sitting on the substitute bench, He had his opportunities but could not convert to keep the three points.

The Rosario star of FC Barcelona entered the field in the minute 57 y, although it meant a mental boost for the Argentine team, failed to twist the zero of the scoreboard. The game had two early expulsions in the minute 25: Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuaín, at the premises, and Italian Milan defender Cristian Zapata, in the visitor.

For your part, The Colombian team managed to save a point from its visit to the Monumental stadium, from Buenos Aires, which allows him to confirm his good moment since the arrival of José Pekerman to the technical leadership. At the beginning of the match, The Argentine national team took control of the process of the meeting with the Real Madrid duo: Angel Di Maria, driver, and Gonzalo Higuaín, to try to define the plays.
In the first 20 minutes, This combination allowed four clear scoring plays against a Colombian defense that could not contain the explosive outbursts of Ángel Di María, who became the natural driver of the Albiceleste team.

On the Colombian side, the presence of Radamel Falcao García in the area, accompanied by Jackson Martínez, They were the obligatory references to the overflows of Camilo Zúñiga on the right and Pablo Armero on the left. But in the minute 25 An empty play by Sergio Agüero ended with Cristian Zapata and Gonzalo Higuaín exchanging kicks, which led to the expulsion of both by Venezuelan referee Marlon Escalante..

From that moment, The local team felt the absence of its scorer and the visiting team rearranged itself to better take care of goalkeeper David Ospina's fence.. The departure due to injury of the new French Monaco reinforcement James Rodríguez forced Pekerman to change the tactical drawing of his team again with the entry of Juan Guillermo Cuadrado. The first half went without any major scoring chances with a solitary Sergio Agüero in the Colombian area and another forward alone like Radamel Falcao García in the Argentine area.

In the second half everything was monotonous until the entry of Lionel Messi into the Argentine team when the clock marked the minute 57. The contagion effect was reflected in his teammates and the Argentine captain led his team on three scoring occasions., none of which could bend the scoreboard's zero. Perkerman was quick on his reflexes with the entry of the Argentine star and immediately determined that Alexander Mejía jump onto the field with the sole objective of exerting a personal mark on him..

The match ended with one point for each, celebrated by Colombia, because it confirms the good direction since the arrival of Perkerman and regretted by Argentina, since he had intentions of ratifying his World Cup place in this double date of South American qualifiers.