If Argentina didn't win, the qualification to the World Cup depended on the result of the other match of the group (being held in Lima on the same day) between Peru and Paraguay.

The game was played in Buenos Aires at the Monumental Stadium before about 75,000 spectators, refereed by Uruguayan Ernesto Filippi, replacing the Chilean Carlos Robles.

When the Argentinian goal seemed sure to come, Colombia began to control the game and at halftime was winning 1–0, thanks to the speed and accuracy of the player Freddy Rincón after a precise pass from Carlos Valderrama in the minute 41.

[1] Argentine sports magazine El Gráfico published a black cover after the game titled "Vergüenza" (Shame) without background images.

The squad remained unbeaten at home 33 matches until, curiously, another 5 September (of 2009) suffered the second defeat in its history, this time against Brazil (3−1) in the city of Rosario.

[10] The 5−0 was the first time that Argentina lost by a landslide in the history of World Cup qualifying until its defeat of 1 April 2009 against Bolivia in La Paz, with Diego Maradona as coach (6−1).

As for Colombia, despite thunderous victory in Argentina, the World Cup turned to be a complete nightmare as they ended up getting eliminated in the group stage partially due to an own goal against host nation United States scored by Andrés Escobar, who was then murdered five days later after returning home.