A BAD START FOR MESSI AND ARGENTINA IN COPA AMERICA LOSING 3 POINTS

The 2019 Copa America did not start well for Lionel Messi and Argentina, who were defeated 2-0 by Colombia at the Fonte Nova on Saturday. A very physical game was dominated by the Albiceleste in the second half, but Colombia were brutally efficient on the counter and picked up a big opening night win.





FIRST HALF
At halftime, both teams really wanted to win, but they needed to play just a little bit of football in the second half. First half ended with a draw of 0-0

SECOND HALF
Messi was on the ball even more as he tried to find an equalizer, while Colombia just waited for the perfect counter attack to kill the game. And they got it: Martínez found Jefferson Lerma on the overlap, and Lerma found substitute Durván Zapata for the second goal with five minutes to go.




The final whistle came to end a bad night for Messi and Argentina. They played really well in the first 30 minutes of the second half, but couldn’t convert their chances and had their defensive issues exposed once again. Their final two group stage games are going to be easier than this one, but they did not prove against Colombia that they’re ready to win the tournament.





Goals: First goal by Martínez (71’)
 Second goal by Zapata (86’)


"We have to keep our heads high and think about what's next, because this is just the beginning and there's still a lot of Copa to be played," Messi said.




Colombia top Group B with three points ahead of Qatar's meeting with Paraguay on Sunday.