WC 2010 Qual:{06.07.08} ~ Argentina vs Ecuador

[Freddy Adu]

Argentina vs Equador

Apuramento WC2010 - CONMEBOL | Apuramento | Day 5

Argentina Equador

Date 2008-06-07 18h00 City Stadium Referee

[TheGift]

Argentina snatch late draw

Argentina substitute Rodrigo Palacio scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time, five minutes after coming on, to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Ecuador in a FIFA World Cup™ qualifier on Sunday.

Ecuador had been poised to hand Argentina their first home defeat in a qualifier since 1993 after going ahead with a brilliant strike from Patricio Urrutia in the 69th minute.

The draw left Argentina with 10 points from five games in the South American group, and Ecuador with four.

The visitors surrounded referee Rene Ortube at the end, apparently angry at the amount of time he had added on. Argentina, who visit arch-rivals Brazil in another qualifier on Wednesday, were generally unimpressive.

A poor first half failed to produce any clearcut chances. With Juan Roman Riquelme having a quiet game in midfield, Argentina failed to get the ball to strikers Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.

Their best move ended with Messi just failing to make contact with a low cross from Maxi Rodriguez.

Riquelme wasted two free kicks early in the second half before Ecuador had a penalty appeal turned down when Joffre Guerron burst into the area and appeared to be pushed over by Gabriel Heinze.

Guerron and Carlos Tenorio were a constant problem for the Argentine defence and both were involved in the a superbly-worked goal in the 69th minute. The pair combined for Tenorio to backheel the ball into the path of Urrutia, who rifled in a 20-metre shot off the crossbar.

Argentina replied with a Julio Cruz header which flew just wide before Aguero forced a good save from goalkeeper Jose Cevallos.

Ecuador appeared to have done enough to win but lost concentration in the closing seconds. A long goal kick by Roberto Abbondanzieri found its way past two defenders and landed perfectly for Palacio to fire past Cevallos, who got a hand to the ball but could not stop it bouncing into the goal.

FIFA.com - Argentina snatch late draw

[TheGift]

Highlights: YouTube - Argentina v Ecuador: 2010 South American World Cup Qualifier