Argentina to qualify for world cup

[Quandram]

Maradonna belly-flops in celebration

[Winrew]

[jambojr]

Uruguay scored in 90+ mins to win 2-1 so still on for the last game!

Argentina ain't too clever away (or at home judging that result)

[Betfly]

Late goal boosts Argentina hopes


Maradona's team had lost their last three matches

Argentina kept their World Cup qualification hopes in their own hands with a dramatic 2-1 win over Peru. Debutant Gonzalo Higuain, starting ahead of Carlos Tevez, nodded them in front in the second half before Hernan Rengifo headed a last-minute equaliser.
But in added time, Martin Palermo, back after a 10-year absence, tapped in to put Diego Maradona's team fourth, the last automatic place, with a game left.
Chile sealed their qualification with a 4-2 win in Colombia to take third spot.
It is the first time that Chile, under the guidance of former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa, have reached the finals since 1998.
They had fallen behind but Bielsa sent on the more attacking Jorge Valdivia and his team went 2-1 up within four minutes.
The key game for Maradona's Argentina is on Wednesday against Uruguay, who are only a point behind in the fifth-place play-off berth after beating Ecuador, who are now in sixth another point back.
"I told him at half-time 'go and resolve this'," Maradona said of his decision to bring on Palermo.
"It was a miracle from Saint Palermo that gives us another life."
In driving rain Maradona's under-pressure side did everything but score in a first half they dominated from start to finish, with the gifted Lionel Messi at the heart of the majority of their inventive attacks.
They finally took the lead in the 48th minute when Higuain ran on to Pablo Aimar's pass and slotted into the far corner.
Peru had a penalty appeal rejected when when former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano's shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of Emiliano Insua.
With Argentina appearing content to hold on for the 1-0 scoreline, Rengifo nodded home a cross from the left from barely two yards to bring Peru level.
But just as Argentina's World Cup dreams looked to be slipping away, Palermo give his famous coach a lifeline.
With eight Argentinian players in a packed Peru penalty area, the Boca Juniors striker found himself in the right place at the right time to convert a simple chance after a low ball across the box came all the way through to him.
There was more drama to come as Rainer Torres tried his luck straight from the kick-off, but his effort struck the bar and Argentina recorded a vital victory.

BBC SPORT | Football | Internationals | Late goal boosts Argentina hopes

First prices out & it's 6/4 for both Uruguay & the Argies..

Game is live on wed on Sky Sports 1....

[MickeyPaul]

Can anyone confirm whether or not ODM is still alive? I saw a headline this morning about some gay chap dying and feared the worst.

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by MickeyPaul

Can anyone confirm whether or not ODM is still alive? I saw a headline this morning about some gay chap dying and feared the worst.

Argentina should be fine now - at worst they have that 5th spot against an extremely inferior outfit.

Keg - your over 2.5 goals never in doubt eh

That Maradona celebration was brilliant too!

[ONEDUNME]

I'm still alive Mickey.

Thanks for your concern.

Looks like I need to back Uruguay on Wednesday.

[traeth]

Originally Posted by Quandram

Maradonna belly-flops in celebration

I loved the bit after he got up and had to pull up the trakkie bottoms to hide his "builders arse"

[7HEGR1MR3AP3R]

Shocking team though, no idea what theyre doing !

[MickeyPaul]

Shocking team or shocking coach? Or a bit of both? He doesn't strike me as the 'coachy/managery' type to be honest. I think superstar coaches are generally a bad idea. Especially mental ones.

[rcgills]

Originally Posted by Kiko

Argentina should be fine now - at worst they have that 5th spot against an extremely inferior outfit

That's not right, I don't think . If Argentina lose to Uruguay and Ecuador win away to Chile, who've already qualified, Uruguay would get 4th, Ecuador 5th (and the play off), and Argentina are out.

[MickeyPaul]

Looks like someone has covered it in detail on BBC 606: BBC - 606 - - A58257183 - South America group stage

[Kiko]

Originally Posted by rcgills

That's not right, I don't think . If Argentina lose to Uruguay and Ecuador win away to Chile, who've already qualified, Uruguay would get 4th, Ecuador 5th (and the play off), and Argentina are out.

Yeah got my table wrong, apologies - big ask going to my 2nd country Chile and getting all 3 points mind!