Lazio star Hernan Crespo levelled the scores three minutes later after a goal-mouth scramble from a corner. But the Bolivians came out for the second half on fire and took the lead nine minutes after the restary when Percy Colque jinked past Juan Sebastian Veron to volley in. And ten minutes from time they were sent reeling when Joaquin Botero made it 3-1 with a header. With a humiliating defeat in prospect however Argentina suddenly raised their game, discovering the scintillating one-touch attacking football that has been their hallmark throughout the qualifying campaign. Crespo gave them hope with a superb long-range effort on 89 minutes to halve the deficit although Bolivian keeper Jose Carlos Fernandez was at fault.
Brazil find themselves in the unthinkable position of having to tough it out.
Following the defeat against Ecuador in their last match, Emerson Leao's men had been looking for a morale-boosting victory against Peru in Sao Paulo. However the 1998 World Cup finalists and four-time winners of the tournament were made to look ordinary in a dreadful first half performance at the Morumbi Stadium. It took a 65th-minute opener from evergreen Vasco da Gama player Romario to ease the pressure on the home side. But 11 minutes from time Brazil's defence were caught napping and Juan Pajuelo soared to head home from a free-kick. The draw leaves Brazil in fourth-place in the overall standings and means they are by no means certain of a place at next year's finals.