For Colombia's part in the meeting with Argentina, James Rodriguez, otherwise in the Spanish league with Rayo Vallecano, was somewhat of a matchwinner. He set a penalty to 2–1, which became the final result, and he assisted the leading goal. For Colombia, the win meant revenge for the loss against Argentina in the final of the South American Championships last summer. Argentina lacked superstar Lionel Messi, who is injured.
Argentina still leads the qualifying series, ahead of Uruguay and Colombia. Brazil is further down, but within the six out of ten teams that advance.
Brazil lost to Paraguay away with 0–1 after a goal by the opposing team's Diego Gomez, a long shot that went post-in after 20 minutes. Gomez plays with Lionel Messi in Inter Miami but is rumored to be on his way to Brighton in the Premier League.
