'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Colombia came from behind in their 2022 World Cup Qualifier to secure a 2-2 draw against a Lionel Messi-led Argentina side who were massive favorites going into the game.
Lionel Messi started on the right side of the attack, with Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez leading the line for Argentina. Martinez was not the only Serie A superstar on show, as Rodrigo De Paul and Cristian Romero also featured in the starting line-up.
Colombia also had their share of Serie A stars, with Juan Cuadrado, Duvan Zapata and David Ospina all starting. Premier League duo Yerry Mina and Davinson Sanchez started at the heart of the defense.
Trending
Things looked like it would be smooth sailing for the Albiceleste early on in the game. Atalanta defender Cristian Romero powered home a header past David Ospina after a wonderful free-kick by De Paul in the third minute of the game.
It got even better for Argentina five minutes later, as Leandro Paredes slotted in his side's second goal after some sloppy defending by Colombia. Los Cafeteros looked rattled by Argentina's fast start and could not get a foothold in the game.
Colombia struggled to handle the pace and movement of Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez throughout the first half. Argentina continued their search for a third goal, with the aforementioned duo forcing saves out of Ospina in goal.
Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado was the only bright spark for Reinaldo Rueda's side in the first half, as the Colombian caused havoc on multiple occasions.
Lionel Messi and Argentina were wasteful in the second half
The second half started much brighter for Los Cafeteros. Nicolas Otamendi gave away a penalty after catching Mateus Uribe with an elbow to the face. Atalanta hitman Luis Muriel stepped up and arrowed the penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Lionel Messi then came close to restoring Argentina's two-goal cushion when he saw his free-kick tipped over the bar by Ospina. The Napoli goalkeeper kept Colombia in the game on multiple occasions with some great saves in the second half.
Lionel Messi was at the center of the action again as he threaded a pass through to Lautaro Martinez, but the Inter Milan striker's shot was saved by the brilliant Ospina. Both Martinez and Messi cut frustrated figures as they could not find the back of the net.
Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez's wastefulness in front of goal would come back to bite them, as Miguel Borja got away from his marker and headed in Juan Cuadrado's free kick in the 94th minute of the game to salvage a point for Colombia.
The draw leaves Argentina second in the table, six points behind Brazil, with Colombia only four points behind them in fifth place.
Here are the best Twitter reactions following the game.
Kindly help Sportskeeda's Football section improve. Take a 30-second survey.
