Argentina 1 – Peru 1 – Palermo 1

By: Jeremy | October 11th, 2009

After a decade in the wilderness, Argentina and Boca’s current favorite son returned to the Selection and snatched all three points for the Albiceleste in a crucial (is that an understatement?) World Cup qualifier against Peru.

Palermo celebrates in the rain.

After Peru had scored an equalizer minutes before, Martin Palermo saved Argentina’s hopes in the 93rd minute, in the rain no less.

The team, with several changes from the last time out, featured more Argentine-based players and dominated the first half. Too bad the second half turned into a team-wide malaise. Lots of confusion and bad marking. Playing that way on Wednesday in el Centenario in Uruguay will not get the job done.

Gonzalo Higuain got his first cap, and scored a goal three minutes into the game to repay Diego’s trust.

But hey, a win is a win and good teams win sloppy at times. Argentina currently sit 4th with 25 points, in the last direct qualifying slot. Uruguay lie fifth, one point adrift of Argentina with 24 and in the playoff spot. Ecuador sits one point back of them with 23.

Argentina qualify with a win or a draw against Uruguay, barring an Ecuador rout. A draw would give them 26 points and a 5 goal difference over Ecuador. Losing would not kill them completely, but they would need an Ecuador loss as well, and that just to get them to a playoff with the 4th ranked Concacaf squad, currently Honduras.

Wednesday will define Diego’s stint as coach, one way or the other. Not making the World Cup will be a much bigger deal than losing the World Cup once you make it.

If he makes it he took over from a dead in the water Basile squad and turned things around (not really). If he loses, well, I’m not sure what happens but it won’t be pretty.