MONTEVIDEO: Argentina suffered a scare before coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw with Bolivia as 2014 World Cup qualifying rivals Colombia slipped up against Venezuela on Tuesday night.
Argentina had been thrashed 6-1 by Bolivia when the sides last met in the thin air of La Paz in qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup.
Another upset looked on the cards on Tuesday when Bolivia striker Marcel Martins headed the home side into a 25th-minute lead.
But Argentina -- who had impressed in a 3-0 win over Venezuela in Buenos Aires last Friday -- grabbed a share of the points when Valencia’s Ever Banega headed in the equalizer shortly before half-time.
Argentina might even have taken all three points, but captain Lionel Messi squandered a golden chance when one-on-one with Bolivia keeper Sergio Galarza six minutes from time.
Despite the failure to take maximum points, Argentina remain in control of the South American qualifying standings after Colombia, who had started the day in second place, crashed 1-0 to Venezuela in Caracas.
In Quito, Ecuador’s 4-1 victory over bottom team Paraguay lifted them over Colombia into second, four points behind Argentina.
The day’s other match saw 2010 World Cup semi-finalists Uruguay suffer another setback after a 2-0 defeat to Chile in Santiago.
The loss leaves Uruguay two points adrift of the qualifying places in South America. The first four teams qualify automatically for Brazil, while the fifth placed team goes into a play-off with their Asian counterpart. AFP
