Wed Sep 11 17:14:59 UTC 2024: ## South American World Cup Qualifiers: Upsets and Surprises

**Barranquilla, Colombia** – In a stunning upset, Colombia defeated defending World Cup champion Argentina 2-1 on Tuesday, marking their first victory over the Argentines since 2019. The match saw the absence of Argentina’s star player, Lionel Messi, who was sidelined due to injury.

Colombia’s victory was fueled by the impressive performance of James Rodriguez, who scored a penalty and assisted on another goal. The veteran midfielder also tied Falcao García’s record of 13 goals in World Cup qualifying, and equaled Carlos Valderrama’s record of 11 assists in the tournament.

Despite Argentina’s struggles, they remain at the top of the South American qualifying table with 18 points. Colombia sits in second place with 16 points.

**Asunción, Paraguay** – In another major upset, Paraguay defeated Brazil 1-0, handing coach Dorival Júnior his first defeat since taking over in January.

Diego Gómez scored the winning goal for Paraguay in the 20th minute, marking a historic victory for the underdogs. The absence of Neymar, who is still recovering from injury, proved costly for Brazil. The team struggled to generate scoring opportunities and struggled to match Paraguay’s intensity.

This defeat leaves Brazil in fifth place with 10 points.

**Other Matches**

* **Bolivia** defeated **Chile** 2-1 in Santiago.
* **Ecuador** beat **Peru** 1-0 in Quito.
* **Venezuela** drew 0-0 with **Uruguay** in Maturin.

These results highlight the competitiveness of the South American qualifying group. With two more matches remaining in October, the race for World Cup qualification is far from over. The top six teams in South America will secure automatic spots in the 2026 World Cup.

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