With Uruguay nicking a 2-1 victory in Ecuador thanks to former Manchester United man Diego Forlan’s penalty, Diego Maradona’s troops needed victory over hapless Peru to keep their automatic qualification hopes alive.
A goalless first half had the home fans on tenterhooks but Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain settled nerves shortly after the restart. Argentina, though, continued to look disorganised and way below the sum of all their parts, with Lionel Messi unusually subdued.
Then in a torrential downpour, with the clock ticking over into time added on, Peru substitute Hernan Rengifo stooped to head home an equaliser. It was surely the final nail in the coffin of Maradona’s reign.
But Martin Palermo, a player who once missed three penalties in the same match, had other ideas. With the conditions bordering on treacherous the 35-year old found space at the back post to prod home a 93rd-minute winner. Cue pandemonium and a Jurgen Klinsmann-style celebration from Maradonna.
The result means that Argentina could claim the final automatic qualifying place with a draw in Uruguay on Wednesday if Ecuador fail to beat the already qualified Chile. However defeat in Montevideo coupled with victory for Ecuador will see Argentina miss out on even entering the play-offs against a member of Concacaf.
Costa Rica are in prime position to seal their place in that qualifying tie after hammering 10-man Trinidad and Tobago 4-0. A point against the United States, who secured their automatic spot with a win over Honduras, on Wednesday will be enough. Mexico meanwhile joined the US in earning their place in South Africa thanks to a 4-1 win over El Salvador.
In Europe, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Serbia all sealed their place on the plane with differing results. The defending champions Italy had to come from behind twice to snatch a draw in Ireland, while Germany and Denmark both won by the odd goal against Russia and Sweden respectively. Serbia, though, scoop the performance of the day award after a crushing 5-0 defeat of Romania. They top Group 7 while France hit five of their own against the Faroe Islands to confirm a place in the play-offs.
Portugal’s joy after moving into second place in Group One with a 3-1 win over Hungary was tempered by news that Cristiano Ronaldo will be sidelined for a month with an ankle injury.
In Africa, Didier Drogba emerged from the substitutes bench to hit the Ivory Coast's equaliser that fired them to South Africa 2010. They join Ghana and the hosts as the continent's only teams to seal safe passage so far. Cameroon and Eygpt look set to join them while Nigeria kept their hopes alive with a late, late victory over Mozambique.
No comments:
Post a Comment