Maradona hails another act of God

DIEGO MARADONA hailed Martin Palermo as a “miracle maker” after the veteran striker’s last-gasp goal against Peru on Saturday gave Argentina renewed hope of qualifying directly for next year’s World Cup finals.

Argentina were on the brink after Hernan Rengifo’s last-minute header cancelled out Gonzalo Higuain’s strike.

But in monsoon-like conditions, Palermo – restored to the side after 10 years – grabbed an injury-time goal to put Argentina in the all-important fourth place in the South American qualifying zone with one game left to play and prompt Maradona to sprint across the sodden turf and dive headlong in celebration.

“Martin Palermo has saved us and our chances of qualifying are intact,” Maradona said.

“When the wind and rain and cold began and allowed Peru to draw level, we could not do anything, but the miracle of Palermo has given us a longer life.

“The goals I scored were normal, Palermo makes miracles.”

Maradona had been under huge pressure after an unimpressive qualifying performance left his team on the verge of facing a play-off to reach South Africa.

But they will now face Uruguay, a point behind Argentina in fifth, on Wednesday in a make-or-break game; the winners will qualify automatically, while the losers might even miss out on a play-off spot if Ecuador defeat Chile.

The circumstances, combined with his own long absence, made the goal all the more special for Palermo.

“It was incomparable, because it was for the national team at a time like this,” the striker said.

“I don’t know if it was fate, but I thank God for this triumph.”

Uruguay’s hopes remain very much alive after they claimed a crucial victory away to Ecuador.

An injury-time penalty from Diego Forlan gave the Charruas victory at the Olimpico Atahualpa and they now need a win over Argentina on Wednesday to achieve automatic qualification.

Chile became the third team from South America to secure World Cup qualification with victory away to Colombia.

Midfielder Jorge Valdivia was the star of the show as he came off the bench to score one goal and help create the other three.

In the CONCACAF group, Mexico and the USA secured qualification thanks to wins over El Salvador and Honduras respectively.

Javier Aguirre’s Mexico side claimed a convincing 4-1 home win to end El Salvador’s hopes of making it to South Africa, while the United States were 3-2 winners away to Honduras.

Mexico knew they needed the three points and took the lead after 25 minutes through an own goal by Marvin Gonzalez after Cuauhtemoc Blanco had shot on goal. El Tri extended their lead in the 71st minute when Blanco scored with his right foot from a Guillermo Franco pass.

With only six minutes to go, 36-year-old Juan Francisco Palencia made it 3-0, but Julio Martinez scored from a free-kick for El Salvador two four minutes later.

Arsenal’s Carlos Vela added a fourth for Mexico in injury time.

Aguirre, who succeeded Sven-Goran Eriksson in April, felt qualification was the result of plenty of hard work.

He said: “I feel calm. When you achieve the goals you were hired to do you feel satisfied.

“There were some difficulties, not everyone likes you, but I know I will sleep well.

“It was an intense first half tonight. Tension makes you want to win the game before time. As soon as the team scored, they played better.”