U-20 World Cup: Argentina will seek its seventh title against the surprising Morocco

Santiago de Chile (EFE).- Argentina defeated Colombia 1-0 this Wednesday in the semi-finals of the U-20 World Cup in Chile, in a match played at the National Stadium in Santiago in which it showed off its effectiveness and solidity, and advanced to the final of the tournament, in which against Morocco it will seek next Sunday its seventh title in the category. It will be the second time in 20 years that an African team will play a final, and as in 2005, they will do so against Argentina. On that occasion, Lionel Messi scored a brace to defeat Nigeria.

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The coffee growers, for their part, despite their valor in the face of adversity and playing with one less player due to Jhon Rentería's expulsion in the 79th minute, succumbed and will face France for third place on Saturday the 18th in Santiago. Newell's striker Matteo Silvetti defined the victory for the albiceleste in the 72nd minute, which made him key again as he was against Mexico in the quarterfinals when he scored the winning goal.

Argentina defeated Colombia in the semi-final of the U-20 World Cup

La Albiceleste has the opportunity to end an 18-year wait and seek their seventh crown against the Moroccans, after the last one achieved in the 2007 edition. Colombia was more incisive in attack in the first minutes with the forward Joel Canchimbo, against an Argentina supported by the runs down the wing of the winger Gianluca Prestianni. Around 15 minutes, the masks of caution fell, and both teams began to fight for every inch of the court, responding blow by blow in the areas.

Argentina pressed in attack with its powerful trident of goalscorer Alejo Sarco, striker Ian Subiabre and Prestianni, while the coffee growers came dangerously close with Canchimbo, Emilio Aristizábal and captain Kener González. However, adversity came for Colombia after half an hour of the match when the best on the field, Canchimbo, was injured without a foul and was substituted by Jhon Rentería.

The Tricolor lost strength in a decimated attack with the absence of the scorer Néiser Villarreal, but showed courage with the arrivals of midfielder Juan Arizala and Rentería himself. Argentina started the second half with the entry of attacker Mateo Silvetti and missed a clear opportunity, which was answered by the Colombian Aristizábal stepping into the area without scoring.

Colombia met with Barbi

The door-to-door approach was imposed and made the albiceleste goalkeeper of Talleres, Santino Barbi, shine, who saved a superb shot by Rentería and another header by Arizala, which he cleared with his fingertips over the crossbar. Argentine coach Diego Placente tried to change the outcome in the 62nd minute by asking for a red card for Rentería, but the referee, Portuguese Joao Pinheiro, did not grant it.

With the spaces closed, Sarco had trouble finding clear options, but Prestianni knew how to find the moment to filter a ball into the area and that Silvetti, with a three-fingered shot, made it 1-0 at minute 72 on the right post of goalkeeper Jordan García. The match heated up with Rentería's expulsion for a double yellow card and on the next foul, coach César Torres asked for a red card for the albiceleste center-back Dylan Gorosito, which the Portuguese referee left as a yellow card. From there to the end, Argentina knew how to control a diminished Colombia and sealed their victory.

Technical Sheet:

1. Argentina: Santino Barbi; Dylan Gorosito (m.85, Santiago Fernández); Tomás Pérez; Juan Villalba; Tobías Ramírez; Julio Soler; Milton Delgado; Valentino Acuña (m.45, Tobías Andrada); Ian Subiabre (m. 45, Mateo Silvetti); Gianluca Prestianni (m.90, Santino Andino); Alejo Sarco. Coach: Diego Placente. 0. Colombia: Jordan García; Julián Bazán (m.79, Luis Miguel Landazuri); Simón García; Yeimar Mosquera; Juan Arizala; Kener González; Joel Romero; Elkin Rivero (m.74, Rayner Benítez); Óscar Perea; Joel Canchimba (m.36, Jhon Rentería); Emilio Aristizabal. Coach: César Torres. Goal: 1-0, m.72, Mateo Silvetti. Referee: Portuguese Joao Pinheiro. He sent off Colombian Jhon Renteria for a second yellow card and cautioned Colombian Royner Benitez and Argentinians Juan Villalba, Dylan Gorosito, Tobias Andrada, Santiago Fernandez. Incidents: Match corresponding to the semi-finals of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2025 played at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago.