Argentina celebrate reaching the Tokyo 2020 football tournament after a 2-1 win over Colombia in Bucaramanga ©Getty Images

Argentina earned a place at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics today as they beat Colombia 2-1 in the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) Pre-Olympic Tournament being held in the Colombian city of Bucaramanga.

A second successive victory in this four-team round robin, following a 3-2 win over Uruguay, means Argentina have secured one of the two qualifying positions for this summer’s Olympic football competition, which involves under-23 teams.

Brazil, who won gold at their home Olympics in Rio four years ago, must now beat Argentina in their final round robin match on Sunday (February 9) to ensure that they will be in Tokyo to defend their title.

After being held to a 1-1 draw by Colombia in their opening match, Brazil drew 1-1 with Uruguay today.

They currently occupy the second qualifying place behind Argentina, but hold only a one point lead over Uruguay and Colombia and so need the two points awarded for a victory to be secure.

Uruguay and Colombia will meet in the first of Sunday’s concluding matches at the Estadio Alfonso López.

A 1-1 draw against Uruguay leaves Rio 2016 football champions Brazil needing a win over Argentina on Sunday to be sure of reaching the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ©Getty Images
A 1-1 draw against Uruguay leaves Rio 2016 football champions Brazil needing a win over Argentina on Sunday to be sure of reaching the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ©Getty Images

Two goals in the space of three minutes – from Agustin Urzi in the 50th minute and Patricio Nehuén Pérez in the 53rd minute – put Argentina in charge of their second match.

The hosts pulled a goal back through a 67th minute penalty from Edwuin Cetré but Argentina – Olympic champions in 2004 and 2008, held on.

Earlier in the day Brazil - whose 5-4 penalty shoot-out victory over Germany at the Rio 2016 Olympics, with the final kick being scored by Neymar, was one of the highlights of the event – had required a 40th minute own goal by Ignacio de Arruabarrena to earn their second point of the final stage.

Manuel Ugarte had put Uruguay into the lead five minutes earlier.

Argentina’s success means there are only three more places to be claimed for this summer’s Olympic football competition.

The second placed CONMEBOL team will be joined by two others from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) qualifiers that will take place from March 20 to April 1.

Japan have qualified as hosts, and the other qualifiers so far are France, Germany, Romania, Spain, New Zealand, Egypt, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Australia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Argentina.