Buenos Aires - Argentina beat Peru 2-1 Saturday in Buenos Aires to get back on track toward the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, despite another very poor performance. In his national team debut, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain put Argentina ahead to start the second half.
In the 89th minute, Hernan Rengifo equalized with a header, only for veteran striker Martin Palermo to give Argentina a by-then unlikely goal almost three minutes into injury time.
In the first half, Argentina had several chances against the worst side in the South American qualifiers, while Peru hardly bothered to attack.
Higuain wasted two good chances some 20 minutes into the game, and playmaker Pablo Aimar, who was generally imprecise in his passes, fumbled another. Barcelona star Lionel Messi again made few contributions to Argentina's play and only tried his luck once from afar.
In the second half, Peru changed their attitude radically. Immediately after the break, Juan Vargas was almost on target with a beautiful, long-range half-volley, while Johan Fano also tested Argentine keeper Sergio Romero.
In the 47th minute, a great pass from Aimar set up Higuain, who scored with an elegant right-foot shot.
Ten minutes later, Romero blocked a good shot from Carlos Zambrano, and Luis Ramirez picked up the rebound. Emiliano Insua blocked the ball with his arm, but the referee failed to award Peru a penalty.
In the 65th minute, Argentine defender Rolando Schiavi even came close to scoring an own goal.
Argentina once again looked lost on the pitch, and a close-range header from Rengifo in the 89th minute appeared to give Peru a well- deserved draw.
However, Boca Juniors veteran Palermo gave the host a dramatic win, though arguably from an off-side position.
