MONTEVIDEO - Mario Bolatti stabbed in a late goal to
give Argentina a 1-0 win at Uruguay on Wednesday and send Diego
Maradona's side to the World Cup finals.
Bolatti netted five minutes after coming on as a substitute to
clinch Argentina the fourth automatic qualification spot from the
South American region, joining already-qualified Brazil, Paraguay
and Chile.
Uruguay now face a two-legged play-off against the fourth-placed
team from North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
The visitors had started the match in danger of missing out on
the World Cup for the first time since 1970. A loss to Uruguay
coupled with an Ecuador win in Chile would have produced that
scenario.
However, Maradona was celebrating wildly on the touchline after
Bolatti's goal guaranteed them a spot in the finals next year in
South Africa.
The talisman of Argentine football wept and hugged members of
his coaching team in an outpouring of emotion at the final
whistle.
Having replaced Alfio Basile as coach midway through the
qualification campaign, Maradona's credentials for the job had been
widely questioned after his side lost to Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay
and at home to Brazil.
"I want to dedicate this to all the Argentines," he told
Argentine television. "I thank the squad."
