Botero nets hat-trick as Bolivia thrash Argentina to keep cup hopes alive
Although Lucho Gonzalez brought Diego Maradona’s side level in the first half but the onslaught that followed stunned Argentina.
Marcelo Martins, Alex Da Rosa and Didi Torrico scored one each in the historic win with Botero particularly potent for Bolivia.
Argentina had beaten Venezuela 4-0 on Saturday but were a completely different side tonight while Bolivia also discarded the form book.
In Europe, Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher both claimed their first international goals to keep Scotland’s World Cup dream alive with a crucial win over Iceland at Hampden.
Indridi Sigurdsson had levelled for the visitors but George Burley’s men managed to claim the three points which allows them to put distance between them and their nearest rivals in second place in Group Nine.
Just hours earlier it emerged that captain Barry Ferguson and goalkeeper Allan McGregor – who had made his competitive debut in Saturday’s 3-0 defeat in Holland – were dropped from the team for a breach of discipline.
The Rangers pair had indulged in a lengthy drinking session at the team’s Loch Lomond base following their return from Amsterdam at the weekend, costing them their place in the starting XI for the crunch clash.
However, both were named on the bench and were loudly booed by the Hampden crowd as the team was read before the game.
Franck Ribery was France’s hero for the second time in five days against Lithuania, his second-half winner in Paris lifting Les Bleus into second place in World Cup qualifying Group Seven.
Slovakia kept up the pressure on Northern Ireland in Group Three with a late 2-1 win over Czech Republic.
Dirk Kuyt scored twice as Holland maintained their 100% record in 2010 World Cup qualifying with a comfortable win over FYR Macedonia.
The Oranje all but secured their place in South Africa as they stayed well clear at the top of Group Nine after five games thanks to first-half goals from Kuyt either side of Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s strike. Rafael van der Vaart added some gloss to the scoreline in the 88th minute.
Croatia stayed in second place in Group Six thanks to a 2-0 win over Andorra, the goals coming from Ivan Klasnic and Eduardo.
Denmark remain top of Group One ahead of Hungary on goal difference after a 3-0 victory over Albania.
Hungary had earlier kept up the pressure on Denmark with a 3-0 win of their own against Malta at the Ferenc Puskas Stadium.
Greece maintained their position at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group Two with a 2-1 victory over Israel at the Pagkritio stadium in Crete.
Dimitris Salpigidis’ blistering first-half strike put Otto Rehhagel’s side ahead before a defensive lapse allowed Elyaniv Barda to level for the Israelis just before the hour mark.
Celtic striker Giorgos Samaras came off the bench to net a match-winning penalty after Vasilis Torosidis had been fouled by Baram Kayal.
Greece stay top on goal difference after Switzerland won 2-0 at home to Moldova.
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