Colombia |
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This match has ended. Upcoming related matches:
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Colombia vs Argentina Live Streams and TV Channels
| Country | Channels |
|---|---|
| United States | Dish Network, DirecTV |
| Other Countries | |
| Andorra | Esport3 |
| Australia | Setanta Sports Australia |
| Portugal | Sport TV1 |
| Spain | Esport3 |
| *Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it. | |
Colombia vs Argentina Delayed and Repeat Broadcasts
| Country | Date/Time (US/Eastern) | Channel |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Wed, Nov 16 0:00am | Setanta Sports Australia |
| Thu, Nov 17 4:30am | Setanta Sports Australia | |
| Thu, Nov 17 21:45pm | Setanta Sports Australia | |
| Sat, Nov 19 5:40am | Setanta Sports Australia | |
| Portugal | Wed, Nov 16 10:00am | Sport TV1 |
| Thu, Nov 17 6:30am | Sport TV1 | |
| Fri, Nov 18 2:00am | Sport TV1 | |
| *Don't see your country or favourite channel listed? Let us know and we will include it. | ||
Colombia vs Argentina Match Preview
Argentina will be pressured to return home with the three points against Colombia in Barranquilla.
Messi hasn't been his normal self for Argentina
Both teams will be hoping to turn the page on last week's results, to confront a difficult match that could be won by either side. Likewise, both Colombia and Argentina have made modifications coming into the match, with defenders Amaranto Perea and Martin Demichelis, who were responsible for the goals conceded by their sides, out for the game. While Perea will miss the match due to suspension, Demichelis was dropped by Alejandro Sabella.
Colombia, who are coached by Leonel Alvarez, will be unable to count with the services of Radamel Falcao Garcia, Freddy Guarin and Carlos Sanchez, who are all injured. Like against Venezuela, Falcao's position will be occupied by Jaguares de Chiapas striker Jackson Martinez, while Abel Aguilar will play for Guarin and Camilo Zuniga will replace Gerardo Vallejo. Meanwhile, Adrian Ramos of Hertha Berlin will start in the attack instead of Teofilo Gutierrez.
Argentina, who arrived in Barranquilla on Sunday night, will be pressured to return home with the three points after a disastrous display against Bolivia on Friday. Lionel Messi, Argentina's captain and key player, will especially be feeling the heat after another disappointing performance, where once again he wasn't able to reproduce anything close to that of his Barcelona form.
After having beaten Chile 4-1 in the opening round of the World Cup qualifiers in October, Argentina fell to Venezuela 1-0 and could only afford a 1-1 draw with Bolivia. Messi played brilliantly against Chile and even found the back of the net, but flopped in Argentina's following two games.
According to reports Sabella will change from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2 tactical scheme, in order to have more balance in the midfield. The coach has opted for an attacking partnership consisting of Messi and Real Madrid's Gonzalo Higuain. Sabella will give starts to Pablo Guinazu, Federico Fernandez and Jose Sosa. Meanwhile, if Barcelona midfielder Javier Mascherano doesn't recover in time he will be replaced by Rodrigo Brana.
Like Colombia Argentina have accumulated four points, however they have played an extra match. When the teams met in the group stage of the Copa America in July they fought out a goalless draw.
Colombia vs Argentina Match Report
Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero were on target as Argentina rallied to beat Colombia in Barranquilla on Tuesday.
Lionel Messi starred as Argentina beat Colombia
Both teams came into the match in need of the three points after picking up disappointing results in home games last week. While Colombia drew 1-1 with Venezuela, the outcome of Argentina's match with Bolivia finished identically.
Argentina started strongly, controlling the flow of the game as they tried to dominate their opponents. The Argentines played attractive one-touch soccer, and looked dangerous each time they moved forward, however, their attackers, particularly Lionel Messi, couldn't break through the resilient Colombia defense.
As the match progressed, it was the Argentines who continued to play the better soccer, due to the hard work of midfielders Jose Sosa and Pablo Guinazu.
Colombia, on the other hand, couldn't find their feet, as they could barely string together three successive passes. However, towards the end of the half Argentina provided them with more time on the ball, and this is when Colombia began to lift their game significantly.
In the 26th minute, Adrian Ramos created Colombia's first goal-scoring opportunity, but the Hertha Berlin striker shot off target. Ten minutes later it was Jackson Martinez's turn to unsettle the Argentina defense, but his effort also flashed wide of the post.
To the delight of the home fans, Colombia went ahead on the stroke of half-time when a Dorlan Pabon free-kick took a wild deflection off Javier Mascherano before deceiving Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero.
In the second period Alejandro Sabella, the coach of Argentina, decided to send on Sergio Aguero in order to add more depth to the Argentine attack as they searched for a much-needed equaliser. His introduction sparked Argentina to life, as they looked much more determined than in the first period.
Finally after much pressure and several close-calls, Messi drew Argentina level in the 60th minute when he slotted the ball into an unguarded net after Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina spilled a Sosa cross.
The two-time world champions continued to press, and six minutes from time they were rewarded for their approach as Ospina couldn't retain a Higuain drive and Aguero was in the right place at the right time to fire home the rebound to give Argentina a crucial victory.
With the win, Argentina climbed into joint first-place of the South American World Cup qualifiers with seven points, however group-leaders Uruguay have a game in hand. Meanwhile, Colombia stay on four points from three games.