Argentina stays 5 clear despite Colombia home draw
Source: Agencies |
June 9, 2013, Sunday
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ARGENTINA remained five points clear atop the South American World Cup qualifying standings despite being held to a 0-0 home draw by Colombia on Friday.
Argentina improved to 25 points from 12 matches, 5 clear of Colombia and Ecuador, who both have played 11 games.
Ecuador failed to close the gap after losing 0-1 away to Peru.
Chile took sole possession of fourth place in the standings - the final automatic qualifying place for Brazil 2014 - by winning 2-1 at bottom team Paraguay while Venezuela is fifth after a 0-0 draw at Bolivia.
Argentina's top player Lionel Messi entered the game as a 57th-minute substitute. The Barcelona star has an injured right hamstring muscle and missed the final three weeks of the Spanish league season.
Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain and Cristian Zapata of Colombia were sent off on straight red cards in the 26th for getting into a tussle. "We had lots of possession and they had chances to score," said Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, describing an evenly played match.
Chile moved to outright fourth with the win at Paraguay.
Eduardo Vargas put the visitors ahead in the 41st and Arturo Vidal doubled the advantage in the 56th. Veteran Roque Santa Cruz pulled back a goal in the 88th but the host could not find an equalizer. With only four qualifiers to play, Paraguay's chances of qualifying for Brazil seem all but over.
Argentina improved to 25 points from 12 matches, 5 clear of Colombia and Ecuador, who both have played 11 games.
Ecuador failed to close the gap after losing 0-1 away to Peru.
Chile took sole possession of fourth place in the standings - the final automatic qualifying place for Brazil 2014 - by winning 2-1 at bottom team Paraguay while Venezuela is fifth after a 0-0 draw at Bolivia.
Argentina's top player Lionel Messi entered the game as a 57th-minute substitute. The Barcelona star has an injured right hamstring muscle and missed the final three weeks of the Spanish league season.
Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain and Cristian Zapata of Colombia were sent off on straight red cards in the 26th for getting into a tussle. "We had lots of possession and they had chances to score," said Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina, describing an evenly played match.
Chile moved to outright fourth with the win at Paraguay.
Eduardo Vargas put the visitors ahead in the 41st and Arturo Vidal doubled the advantage in the 56th. Veteran Roque Santa Cruz pulled back a goal in the 88th but the host could not find an equalizer. With only four qualifiers to play, Paraguay's chances of qualifying for Brazil seem all but over.
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