Argentina lost their unbeaten record in 2010 World Cup qualifiers with a 2-1 loss away to Colombia last night, with forward Carlos Tevez sent off after just 25 minutes.
Lionel Messi gave Argentina a first-half lead with an individual
goal but Colombia hit back after the break with a Ruben Dario
Bustos free kick and an 83rd minute winner from substitute Dayro
Moreno.
Both Colombian scorers were booked for taking their shirts
off to celebrate the goals.
Argentina, who now have nine points from four games while
Colombia, who are unbeaten, have eight, noticeably tired in the
second half of a game played at 2,600 metres above sea level.
Neither side created a serious chance before Manchester
United's Tevez was sent off for petulantly kicking Bustos in an
off-the-ball incident, referee Jorge Larrionda producing the red
card after being alerted by the linesman.
The dismissal galvanised Argentina more than Colombia and the
visitors went ahead 12 minutes later.
Juan Roman Riquelme took a quick free kick on the left and
found Messi, who slipped past three defenders and flicked the ball
beyond Agustin Julio into the far corner.
Hugo Ibarra and Riquelme both missed chances to add to their
score as Argentina controlled the ball for the rest of the first
half, while Messi was close to a second in the 51st minute when he
broke down the right, cut inside his marker but shot wide.
Colombia, however, were beginning to threaten and equalised
in the 62nd minute when Bustos -- who also scored from a free kick
in Saturday's 1-0 win over Venezuela -- chipped a free kick between
Roberto Abbondanzieri and the near post.
With the visitors noticeably tiring, Macnelly Torres split
the Argentine defence and found Moreno who slipped the ball to
Wason Renteria, whose shot appeared to be going in before Moreno
rushed in to make sure with seven minutes remaining.