Ruben Dario Bustos and Daryo Moreno scored second-half goals as Colombia upset Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday, handing the Albiceleste their first loss of South American World Cup qualifying.
Colombia prevailed after Argentina played the final 55 minutes with 10 men, the result of Carlos Tevez's expulsion for elbowing Bustos.
Moreno, who replaced Tressor Moreno in the 72nd minute, scored the winner with eight minutes remaining, scoring into an open goal after Argentine keeper Roberto Abbondanzieri strayed off his line.
PHOTO: AP
The goal electrified the crowd of 42,000 in Bogota's El Campin Stadium and sparked celebrations around the Colombian capital, with fireworks and drivers honking car horns.
Argentina had won all three of its opening qualifiers to put it atop the South American qualifying standings and had not allowed goal. Bolivia, who had scored only one goal in three games, also conceded their first goal but climbed to second place with eight points.
Colombia struggled to keep possession early, overwhelmed by Argentina's fluid attack. Despite playing a man down, Lionel Messi gave Argentina the lead in the 36th, weaving through Colombia's defense before scoring.
PHOTO: AP
The hosts were more confident in the second half, taking the lead when Bustos converted a free kick in the 62nd.
The goal energized the match, with both Colombia and Argentina increasing their intensity to fight for the ball.
Colombia will next face Peru, while Argentina take on Ecuador.
Bologna on Thursday advanced past Empoli to reach their first Coppa Italia final in more than half a century. Thijs Dallinga’s 87th-minute header earned Bologna a 2-1 win and his side advanced 5-1 on aggregate. Giovanni Fabbian opened the scoring for Bologna with a header seven minutes in. Then Viktor Kovalenko equalized for Empoli in the 30th minute by turning in a rebound to finish off a counterattack. Bologna won the first leg 3-0. In the May 14 final in Rome, Bologna are to face AC Milan, who eliminated city rivals Inter 4-1 on aggregate following a 3-0 win on Wednesday. Bologna last reached the
If the Wild finally break through and win their first playoff series in a decade, Minnesota’s top line likely will be the reason. They were all over the Golden Knights through the first two games of their NHL Western Conference quarter-finals series, which was 1-1 going back to Minnesota for Game 3 today. The Wild tied the series with a 5-2 win on Tuesday. Matt Boldy had three goals and an assist in the first two games, while Kirill Kaprizov produced two goals and three assists. Joel Eriksson Ek, who centers the line, has yet to get on the scoresheet. “I think the biggest
From a commemorative jersey to a stadium in his name, Argentine soccer organizers are planning a slew of tributes to their late “Captain” Pope Francis, eulogized as the ultimate team player. Tributes to the Argentine pontiff, a lifelong lover of the game, who died on Monday at the age of 88, have been peppered with soccer metaphors in his homeland. “Francisco. What a player,” the Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said, describing the first pope from Latin America and the southern hemisphere as a generational talent who “never hogged the ball” and who showed the world “the importance of having an Argentine captain,
Noelvi Marte on Sunday had seven RBIs and hit his first career grand slam with a drive off infielder Jorge Mateo, while Austin Wynn had a career-high six RBIs as the Cincinnati Reds scored their most runs in 26 years in a 24-2 rout of the Baltimore Orioles. Marte finished with five hits, including his eighth-inning homer off Mateo. Wynn hit a three-run homer in the ninth off catcher Gary Sanchez. Cincinnati scored its most runs since a 24-12 win against the Colorado Rockies on May 19, 1999, and finished with 25 hits. Baltimore allowed its most runs since a 30-3 loss to