RIO DE JANEIRO, 6 June 2005 — Argentina’s plans of booking an early place at next year’s World Cup were upset as they crashed 2-0 away to Ecuador on Saturday, while Chile and Colombia both enjoyed emphatic home wins to stay in the hunt.
Second-half goals from Cristan Lara and Agustin Delgado in Quito mean that Argentina, who would have made sure of their place in Germany if they had won, will now have to try again in Wednesday’s meeting with Brazil.
Colombia trounced Peru 5-0 in steamy Barranquilla and Marcelo Salas became Chile’s all-time leading scorer after hitting the target in the 3-1 win over Bolivia, ending a four-year wait for his 35th international goal.
Venezuela were held 1-1 at home by Uruguay in the night’s other tie, which ended with scuffles between the players.
Argentina still lead the 10-nation South American group with 28 points from 14 games while Brazil, who are four points behind, meet Paraguay in Porto Alegre on Sunday to complete the weekend’s fixtures.
Third-placed Ecuador have 23 points followed by Paraguay (19), Colombia, Uruguay and Chile (17), Venezuela (15), Peru (14) and Bolivia (13).
Argentina coach Jose Pekerman rested several top players and refused to blame Quito’s high altitude after the first defeat in eight games since he took over. Fullback Neicer Reasco weaved his way through the Argentine midfield and laid the ball off for Lara to score in the 54th minute.
Mexico, US on Course for Germany
Meanwhile, Mexico and the United States won again on Saturday as the final stage of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers maintained a predictable course.
Mexico pounced on some dreadful defending to win 2-0 in Guatemala while the United States gave Alexandre Guimaraes an unhappy return to the Costa Rican bench as they trounced the Central Americans 3-0 in Salt Lake City.
Trinidad & Tobago, playing their first competitive international under Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker, beat Panama 2-0 in the other game to move off the bottom of the six-team table.
Mexico, with 10 points from four games, and the U.S., with nine, have already opened up a five-point gap over the rest of the pack and look set to take to of the region’s three direct places at the 2006 World Cup.
The battle for the third place, plus the fourth spot which earns a playoff against Asia’s fifth team, remains wide open with Guatemala, Trinidad and Costa Rica level on four points and Panama on two.
