Argentina has extended its unbeaten run to 29 games after Lautaro Martinez's twenty ninth-minute strike earned them a 1-zero World Cup qualifying victory over Colombia in Cordoba.
Martinez netted his 19th international goal from Marcos Acuna's go as already-certified Argentina moved to 35 points from 15 qualifiers, with 13 wins from their past 15 games.
La Albiceleste have been missing talisman Lionel Messi however welcomed head teach Lionel Scaloni back to the touchline after COVID-19 and he might have been pleased with his facet who had been in large part on top of things all through.
Colombia, whose stuttering qualifying campaign is in strife after seven video games without a win nor a intention, struggled to maintain possession and mustered few authentic probabilities on goal in opposition to a stubborn Argentine defence, who have kept 5 smooth sheets from their beyond five domestic qualifiers.
Messi's Paris Saint-Germain teammate Angel Di Maria, who changed into risky throughout, curled a 16th-minute attempt simply wide of Colombia goalkeeper Camilo Vargas' goal.
In the twenty ninth minute, Vargas could not prevent Argentina going in advance while Inter forward Martinez trapped Acuna's move inside the box and lashed home, squirming beneath the goalkeeper's draw close.
Out of nowhere, Colombia almost levelled on the stroke of 1/2-time, with Luis Diaz putting in place Miguel Borja who turned into denied by Emiliano Martinez. The new Liverpool signing's follow-up attempt turned into cleared off the line by using German Pezzella.
Acuna pressured an excellent save from Vargas early inside the second half of, whilst the Colombian goalkeeper made a higher block along with his outstretched proper arm to disclaim Di Maria from range within the sixty fifth minute.
Giovani Lo Celso, who left Tottenham for Villarreal on loan on deadline day, flashed a danger over the bar as Argentina survived a past due scare from Johan Mojico's shot which nearly brought on a Nicolas Gonzalez own purpose, even though that could no longer have counted because of offside.
Argentina need to have grabbed a second within the 94th minute while Gonzalez broke in behind however opted to rectangular for Paulo Dybala permitting the Colombian defence to clear.
