CORDOBA, Argentina (Reuters) -- Ariel
Ortega scored a spectacular goal to give
Argentina a 2-1 win over Colombia in a
friendly Wednesday.
Ortega scored from outside the area in the
71st minute after Gabriel Batistuta had given
the home side an early lead and Colombia
had equalized from a penalty by Ivan
Cordoba, who was later sent off.
Ortega's goal gave Argentina its first home
win over Colombia in 14 years.
Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa recalled
Batistuta and midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron, whom he agreed to rest
during the Copa America earlier this year. Batistuta replaced Boca Juniors
marksman Martin Palermo, who remarkably missed three penalties when
the two sides met in the Copa America and Colombia won 3-0.
Batistuta, a Fiorentina striker, took only seven minutes to make his mark,
outracing two defenders and beating Colombia goalkeeper Oscar
Cordoba with a powerful shot.
Colombian midfielder Freddy Rincon, making his first appearance after
going back on his decision to quit the national team, nearly grabbed an
equalizer before halftime but saw his effort saved by Roberto Bonano.
The Colombians leveled the score three minutes after the break, Cordoba
converting after Walter Samuel had fouled Henry Zambrano of MLS's
MetroStars.
Cordoba sent off in the 89th minute for a second bookable offense.
Argentina:
Roberto Bonano; Roberto Sensini, Roberto Ayala, Walter
Samuel; Claudio Husaín, Diego Simeone, Javier Zanetti, Juan Verón,
Andrés Guglielminpietro; Gabriel Batistuta y Ariel Ortega. Coach: Marcelo Bielsa.
Colombia:
Oscar Córdoba; González, Jorge Bermúdez, Iván Córdoba,
Roberto Cortes; Freddy Rincón, Mauricio Serna, Grisales, Arley Betancourt; Zambrano y Juan Pablo Angel. Coach: Javier Alvarez.
Goals: 6' Batistuta, 47' Iván Córdoba, 71'Ortega.
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