Argentina have stretched their unbeaten run in World Cup qualifying to 15 games after Lautaro Martinez’s first-half strike condemned Colombian to yet another defeat while leaving their hopes of reaching this year’s tournament hanging by a thread.

The hosts made the breakthrough after just half an hour played as Lautaro Martinez collected a cross inside the box before squirming the ball past Vargas in the Colombia net to give Lionel Scaloni’s side a well-deserved lead. It is Martinez’s 19th goal for his country.

Despite Argentina’s dominance, Colombia nearly scored a shock equaliser with the last kick of the first-half but the effort was cleared off the line with a last-gasp clearance.

The visitors then nearly got a dramatic equaliser in stoppage-time, only for Emi Martinez to somehow prevent the ball from going in before the offside flag was raised. Colombia have now worryingly failed to score in seven straight World Cup qualifiers, leaving Reinaldo Rueda’s side to face serious questions.

Full match report to follow