Belly full: Argentina's head coach Diego Maradona
dives onto the ground as he celebrates his team's late
winner
Substitute Martin Palermo's close-range finish deep into
injury time earned Argentina a thrilling last-gasp win over Peru in
Buenos Aires just minutes after Diego Maradona's men looked to have
suffered yet another World Cup qualifying setback.
Palermo, whom Maradona has recalled to the national team after a
10-year absence, tapped home at the far post in driving rain to
send his coach diving across the sodden turf on his stomach in
celebration.
Hernan Rengifo had headed an equaliser for Peru in the 90th
minute to cancel out debutant Gonzalo Higuain's opener early in the
second half.
The win moved Argentina up to fourth place in the South
American qualifying table, a point ahead of Uruguay, whom they play
on Wednesday, and two clear of Ecuador.
Maradona sprung a surprise with his team selection, leaving
big-name strikers Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero on the bench and
instead handing Higuain his first cap.
Argentina went into the match having lost their last three
qualifiers to Paraguay, Brazil and Ecuador, but if ever there was a
chance to restore some confidence in the side this was it - a home
match against the team bottom of the group.
And they did everything but score in a first half they dominated
from start to finish.
Super sub: Argentina's Martin Palermo celebrates
after scoring the winner
Di Maria's cross from the left was then spilled by
Butron but Peru survived and went into the break all square as
their goal continued to live a charmed life.
Maradona turned to imposing striker Martin Palermo rather than
Tevez or Aguero at half-time, but his side almost found themselves
behind scarcely a minute into the second period.
Nolberto Solano's corner picked out Juan Vargas who crashed a
first-time left-foot volley off the top of the crossbar from well
outside the area.
It was Argentina, though, who took the lead in the 48th minute,
Aimar stabbing a pass through into the right of the area, which
Higuain ran on to and slotted into the far corner.
Peru had a penalty shout waved away in the 58th minute when
Solano's shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of Emiliano
Insua.
And Argentina looked to grow more nervous as the second half
wore on, their chances drying up as torrential rain started to pour
down.
The home side seemed prepared to hold out for the final whistle
and were made to pay for not going for the jugular when they
conceded in the final minute.
Moments after keeper Sergio Romero had made a superb point-blank
save, Rengifo nodded home a cross from the left from barely two
yards bring Peru level.
But just as Argentina's World Cup dreams looked to be slipping
away, Palermo came up trumps for his under-fire boss.
With no fewer than 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 the easiest of chances 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 and Maradona claimed a vital win.