Venezuela 5 - Bolivia 3; Colombia 2 - Argentina 1

In perhaps the most back-and-forth affair of World Cup qualifying so far, Venezuela came back from being one goal down three times to obtain a home victory against Bolivia. The man to save Venezuela the first two times was forward Daniel Arismendi, a beneficiary of Venezuela's decision to start a second forward for the first time in qualifying. Tied 2-2 at the half, Bolivia took a commanding 3-2 lead with only thirteen minutes left in the match. Venezuela managed to tie the game at three and then caught a break when Bolivian goalie Carlos Arias suffered a leg injury with no substitutions remaining. The Venezuelans received two goals from forward Giancarlo Maldonado, who took advantage of Arias's inability to jump for his first strike. His second goal and his team's fifth came against a stand-in goalie who was out of position.

In the day's other match, Colombia pulled off a shock home victory against previously unbeaten and untied Argentina, 2-1. Star Argentinian forward Carlos Tévez was sent off for kicking an opponent who was not a part of the play. Playing down a man for the rest of the game, Argentina did not go away. In fact, they took a 1-0 lead into the half after a goal from Messi. In the second half, Bustos executed a marvelous free kick reminiscent of the one he scored against Venezuela, and the Colombians picked up the win with an empty net strike past a beaten Abbondanzieri. The game featured another two cards for Argentina, these of the yellow variety. Colombia countered with five yellows of their own, including two for removal of shirts following goals.

Alfio Basile, coach of Argentina said afterwards, "We played a very good first half, but the only place where you can't afford to be left with ten players is at altitude. We felt it in the second half. With ten men, we played the way I like, playing the ball around, with triangulations, but we felt the difference of being a man short."

CONMEBOL qualifying resumes in June 2008. Argentina has 9 points, Colombia has 8, Venezuela has 6, and Bolivia has 1.

Goal scorers:
Venezuela: Arismendi 20, 40; Guerra 81; Maldonado 89, 90

Bolivia: Martins 19, 77; Arce 27

Colombia: Bustos 62; D. Moreno 82

Argentina: Messi 36