Pekerman praises patient Argentina
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Argentina coach Jose Pekerman praised his team's patience after they beat ultra-defensive Colombia 1-0 in their South American World Cup qualifier in Buenos Aires.
Argentina struggled to score against Colombia's packed defense, finally breaking through when Hernan Crespo scored in the 65th minute.
The visitors played more than half the match with ten men after Fabian Vargas was sent off in the 41st minute.
"We didn't play as well as we expected, but we were helped by Vargas's sending-off," said Pekerman.
"Colombia managed to keep dispossessing us with a good defense, reinforced by the midfield, but we had the virtue of being patient."
Crespo, who took his tally to five in the qualifiers, admitted the Argentines made heavy-weather of the match and praised rival goalkeeper Miguel Calero.
"It was a struggle against a team who have good players, play the ball around well and who had a goalkeeper who stopped everything we threw at him," said the AC Milan player.
"The match was hard work because that's what Colombia had planned to do."
Uruguay coach Jorge Fossati described Brazil's equalizer as a referee's mistake after his side were held 1-1 by the world champions in Montevideo.
Uruguay led with Diego Forlan's 49th minute goal until Emerson equalized in the 68th minute from what Uruguay claimed was an offside position.
"We had the world champions on the ropes," said Fossati.
"We could have won but we ended up with a draw because of a referee's mistake, and when they score that way, it hurts more.
"We know we've got a really tough job ahead of us," added Fossati, whose team are fifth in the 10-nation South American World Cup qualifying group with 16 points from 13 games.
The top four teams qualify directly for Germany in 2006 and the fifth plays off against the Oceania region winners.
Uruguay are three points behind fourth-placed Paraguay and only three ahead of bottom-of-the-table Bolivia.
Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who criticized his team for their lackluster 1-0 home win over Peru on Sunday, was happy with their performance and singled out Ronaldinho for special praise.
"Maybe it was his best match for Brazil," said Parreira.
"He showed that he is one of the best players in the world, he managed to play well collectively and individually."
"The two teams wanted to win. Maybe this was the best match of the qualifiers so far."
Brazil, who have never beaten Uruguay away in a competitive international, are second in the group with 24 points
Severe setback
Peru's chances of reaching their first World Cup since 1982 suffered a severe setback when an astonishing 89th minute miss by substitute Andres Mendoza meant that they only drew 2-2 with Ecuador in Lima.
Ukrainian-based Mendoza forced his way past goalkeeper Edwin Villafuerte and found himself two meters in front of an open goal, only to miss his kick altogether as he tried to deftly flick it into the net.
The draw left Ecuador third in the 10-nation South American group with 20 points from 13 games while Peru are six points behind them in seventh place.
Peru led in the second minute when Claudio Pizarro set up Bayern Munich team mate Paolo Guerrero to score but Ecuador were level 60 seconds later when Ulises de la Cruz headed home.
The visitors, who had lost all their previous away games, went ahead in first-half injury time when 19-year-old Antonio Valencia scored his third goal in two games.
Pizarro, who had an outstanding game but often fought a lone battle up front, set up Peru's 58th minute equalizer for Jefferson Farfan.
Paraguay bounced back from Sunday's 5-2 defeat in Ecuador to beat Chile 2-1 in Asuncion.
Midfielder Gustavo Morinigo and striker Jose Cardozo, with his seventh goal of the qualifiers, put Paraguay 2-0 ahead before defender Luis Fuentes pulled one back for Chile.
