Substitute Martin Palermo struck two minutes into stoppage time to give Argentina a 2-1 victory over Peru in a dramatic finale to their World Cup qualifier on Saturday. The victory keeps alive Argentina’s hopes of reaching the 2010 finals as they climbed into fourth place in the South American group before their last qualifier away to Uruguay on Wednesday. The top four go through to South Africa.

New cap Gonzalo Higuain had put Argentina ahead two minutes into the second half but, as the driving rain became steadily worse at the Monumental, Peru equalised in the final minute through substitute Hernan Rengifo.

Palermo had the last word, though, when he turned a low ball from the right into the net in a packed area as Argentina threw everything at their opponents in search of the winner.

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