Brazil seal World Cup berth, Argentina dice with death

Brazil secured their place at the 2010 World Cup with an impressive 3-1 win over arch-rivals Argentina while South America's other candidates jockeyed for the region's other three automatic berths.

The defeat left Diego Maradona's side contemplating the dreaded prospect of missing out on the finals but Argentina did cling on to the fourth and final qualifying place after Colombia beat Ecuador 2-0 in another of last weekend's five-match programme.

Chile and Paraguay (27) are both three points behind Brazil (30) and on the verge of sealing spots in South Africa with three matches remaining in the marathon 18-game qualifying round.

Brazil's first-half goals came against the run of play as they made their few chances pay while Argentina squandered the lion's share of possession.

From Brazil's kick-off, Argentina won the ball and forced a corner when Carlos Tevez went for a low right cross to the near post and goalkeeper Julio Cesar turned the ball over the goal-line.

Argentina went on to dictate play and Lionel Messi came close with a left-footed free-kick but despite some penetrating moves the Brazil defence managed to prevent their finishing touch.

Brazil then hit Argentina cold with their first chance when unmarked defender Luisao, the tallest man on the pitch, was allowed to meet Elano's free-kick from the right with a header to the far post that beat the diving Mariano Andujar.

Brazil's next real chance also went in after Andujar failed to hold a shot resulting from a Kaka cross from the left, allowing Luis Fabiano to touch the ball home.

Argentina then created a good chance with Julio Cesar saving a shot from Tevez at the near post and Messi's effort from the rebound being cleared off the line.

Maradona made one change at half-time, bringing on striker Sergio Aguero for winger Maxi Rodriguez, but Argentina's tactics of trying to short-pass their way through the middle of the packed Brazil defence remained unchanged.

When Argentina did score it was with a surprise shot from outside the box by Jesus Datolo, his second goal in two internationals after getting the third in the 3-2 friendly win in Russia last month.

But with Argentina pressing for an equaliser, Brazil made sure of victory two minutes later when Luis Fabiano brilliantly touched the ball over Andujar to finish off a quick counter-attack.

Substitute Diego Milito failed to put away a good chance for Argentina when he gave Julio Cesar time to come out and block his shot after being set up by Messi.

Tight fight

The fight is well and truly on for fourth place after Argentina's defeat, only their second ever at home in a World Cup qualifier after their 5-0 rout by Colombia on exactly the same day 16 years ago.

That defeat forced Argentina out of the automatic qualifying berths and into a two-leg play-off against Australia, which they won after recalling Maradona, to reach the 1994 finals in the US.

Maradona's return late last year as coach has not met with the desired results, however, and defeat against Paraguay in Asuncion on Wednesday could leave Argentina once again faced with the prospect of a play-off.

This time around it would be against the fourth-placed team in the CONCACAF region, a position occupied by Costa Rica.

Despite his own team's qualification, Brazil coach Dunga rued the loss through suspension of playmaker Kaka and two-goal Luis Fabiano in their home match against Chile on Wednesday.

Maradona, evidently sure of his place at the helm despite media cries for his head, showed no emotion after the crushing defeat amid chants late on of Dunga's name from home fans.

It was Argentina's third loss in five qualifiers under former World Cup-winning captain Maradona.

A Rodrigo Millar equaliser saved the Chileans, who were surprisingly held 2-2 at home by Venezuela, with their Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa saying: "Those were two points lost."

Paraguay beat Bolivia at home with a Salvador Cabanas penalty and their Argentine coach Gerardo Martino said: "There's no doubt this was the match to win... Everything we manage to add from now on will surely mean we achieve our goal."

Bottom side Peru ended a run of six consecutive losses with a surprise 1-0 home win over Uruguay thanks to Hernan Rengifo's late strike, compromising the visitors' chances of at least making fifth place and going into a play-off.

Ecuador, who have been to the last two World Cups, fell to two late goals in Colombia in a grim fight for fourth and fifth place with only four points separating five teams. Argentina have 22 points, Colombia and Ecuador 20 and Uruguay and Venezuela 18.

Colombia, who last reached the finals in 1998, came out best from that five-way contest with their win over Ecuador, who were down to 10 men from the 48th minute following a red card for Pablo Palacios.

Substitute Jackson Martinez and Teofilo Gutierrez scored in the final nine minutes for Colombia, whose tally of nine in 15 matches is the lowest of the 10-team group.