Argentina v Colombia (1994 FIFA World Cup qualification)
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The Monumental Stadium, venue of the match | |||||||
| Event | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification - South American zone - group 1 | ||||||
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| Colombia qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup | |||||||
| Date | 5 September 1993 | ||||||
| Venue | Monumental Stadium, Buenos Aires | ||||||
| Referee | Ernesto Filippi (Uruguay) | ||||||
| Attendance | 75,000 | ||||||
The qualifying match for the 1994 FIFA World Cup between Argentina and Colombia is a historic football match played on 5 September 1993. It was the last day of qualifying matches in the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification – group A of the South American qualifiers. Argentina, in that time second of the group, needed to win in order to not play the intercontinental play-off against Australia. If Argentina didn't win, the qualification to the World Cup depended on the result of the other match of the group (being held in Lima on the same day) between Peru and Paraguay. For its part, Colombia being the first of its group could reach the qualification with a win or a draw.[1] Colombia won 5–0.
This match holds great significance and is widely recalled by fans from Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Peru. It marked a significant achievement in Argentina's defeat, as La Albiceleste are a two-time world champion, and at that time an undefeated two-time champion of the 1991 and 1993 Copa América tournaments along with the 1992 FIFA Confederations Cup. In addition, Argentina's six-year undefeated streak on home soil was broken. Prior to this game, Argentina have never conceded five goals and have never lost on home soil in a World Cup qualifier match. After winning this game, Colombia reached its third appearance in a World Cup after playing the 1962 and 1990 editions.
The game was played in Buenos Aires at the Monumental Stadium before about 75,000 spectators, refereed by Uruguayan Ernesto Filippi, replacing the Chilean Carlos Robles.[2] The match was broadcast in Colombia by Cadena Uno (current Canal Uno) through the program Gol Caracol of the then-programadora Caracol Televisión and in Argentina by Canal 13.
The situation of the group before the game was as follows:
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 8 | World Cup | |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | +3 | 7 | Inter-confederation play-offs | |
| 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | –1 | 5 | ||
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 10 | –8 | 0 |
(E) = Eliminated
Colombia was first of the group with 8 points, product of two draws and three wins (in that time, for a win were given two points to the winner). Argentina was in second place, with seven points, product of three wins, one draw and one defeat.
Permutations were as follows:
- Colombia would qualify by avoiding defeat.
- Argentina would qualify by defeating Colombia.
- Paraguay couldn’t qualify directly but could qualify for the inter-continental play-off should they defeat Peru and Colombia defeat Argentina.
- Peru was eliminated.
Both teams had met in the first leg in Barranquilla (15 August 1993) with 2–1 victory for Colombia. The scorers for Colombia were Iván Valenciano and Adolfo "Tren" Valencia; Argentina scored one goal by Ramón Medina Bello.
The game
The match began with insults and slander by the Argentinian fans towards the Colombian team. A few days before the crucial match, Diego Maradona launched a phrase during a television interview: while putting palms of the hands parallel to the ground at chest height, one above the other, said "You can't change history, history shouldn't be changed: Argentina up, Colombia down."[3][4]
The Argentinian team began dominating the match with several arrivals with danger of goal, but the Colombian goalkeeper Oscar Córdoba perfectly conjured Argentinian options. When the Argentinian goal seemed sure to come, Colombia began to control the game and at halftime was winning 1–0, thanks to the speed and accuracy of the player Freddy Rincón after a precise pass from Carlos Valderrama in the minute 41.
For the second half Colombia took Argentina's need and scored the other four goals, as follows:
- 49': Faustino Asprilla (0–2)
- 72': Freddy Rincón, after a pass form Leonel Álvarez. (0–3)
- 74': Faustino Asprilla, after a failed Argentina's ball delivery in midfield. (0–4)
- 84': Adolfo Valencia, after a pass from Asprilla. (0–5)
Match details
Argentina
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Colombia
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