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.