Argentina's newfound hopes were shortlived, however. Only two minutes later, Kaka got a great ball through to Luis Fabiano, and the Sevilla striker brilliantly chipped the ball over Andujar.

Barcelona's Messi - a native of Rosario and arguably the best player in the world - put in a very lacklustre performance and was often imprecise, while Tevez contributed little more than effort for Argentina.

In Asuncion, Paraguayan striker Salvador Cabanas scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, just before half time, following a foul on Carlos Bonet. Bolivian keeper Hugo Suarez had a great game and blocked several other efforts from the hosts.

In Santiago, Venezuela drew 2-2 with Chile to slow down the hosts' pace en route to the World Cup.

Arturo Vidal opened the score for Chile with a header just 10 minutes into the game. However, Giancarlo Maldonado equalized in the 33rd minute and Juan Manuel Rey made things 2-1 for Venezuela from a free kick just before half-time. Rodrigo Millar rescued a valuable point for Chile in the 53rd minute.

In Lima, Uruguay had many chances to pull ahead, but their strikers were seriously off target. Just five minutes before the end of the game, striker Hernan Rengifo gave Peru - the last-placed team in the qualifiers - an unexpected 1-0 win.

Colombia got back in the race with a 2-0 home win over Ecuador in Medellin. Midfielder Jackson Martinez put the hosts ahead in the 72nd minute, while striker Teofilo Gutierrez set the definitive score in injury time.

Colombian midfielder Fabian Vargas - of Spanish club Almeria - broke his fibula and tore a ligament in his ankle when he crashed into Ecuador's Pablo Palacios.

On Wednesday, in the 16th round of the qualifiers, troubled Argentina are set to travel to Paraguay, while Brazil host Chile in the northeastern Brazilian city of Salvador. The round is also set to feature the games Uruguay-Colombia, Bolivia-Ecuador and Venezuela-Peru.