Argentina entered Tuesday’s World Cup qualifiers facing some potentially dire straits.
If the results all shook out in a worst-case scenario, the 2014 World Cup runners-up could have found themselves all the way down to eighth place in COMBEBOL qualifying.
Barcelona star and Argentina forward, Lionel Messi, scored one and assisted two more as Argentina ran riot in their World Cup qualifying clash with Colombia on Tuesday night.
The Barcelona superstar gave his side the lead with a brilliant free-kick after only 10 minutes before setting up Lucas Pratto and Angel di Maria in the second half to seal the three points.
The victory helps ease the pain of the 3-0 defeat to Brazil last week and keeps alive their hopes of qualification for the 2018 showpiece.
A loss to rival Brazil last Thursday left Argentina outside the top five—four direct qualifiers and one playoff participant—in the regional qualifying standings with seven matches to go.
Yet head coach Edgardo Bauza stated his confidence about reaching the World Cup hasn’t wavered.
Radamel Falcao had a couple of first-half chances for Colombia, but they were otherwise outplayed.
The result meant Argentina moved above Colombia in CONMEBOL qualifying, a huge boost following losses to Paraguay and Brazil.