Monday October 12, 2009
‘Saint Palermo’ comes to the rescue for Maradona’s Argentina
BUENOS AIRES: “Saint Palermo” came to the rescue of Diego Maradona’s Argentina in a dramatic World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Palermo was at the far post two minutes into stoppage time to turn in a shot by fellow substitute Federico Insua that took a deflection on a Peruvian boot to hand Maradona’s Argentina a 2-1 victory over Peru.
“Yes, I thought we were out of the World Cup but I’d forgotten about Palermo, Saint Palermo,” Maradona told reporters.
Maradona celebrated as if he had scored the winner himself, diving on the sodden turf at pitch side and gliding several metres on his chest.
The victory lifted Argentina into fourth place in the South American group, the lowest of the automatic qualifying spots behind Brazil, Paraguay and Chile who have booked their berths in the 2010 Finals.
They go to Montevideo on Wednesday to defend their place against Uruguay, who climbed into fifth place valid for a play-off against the team finishing fourth in the CONCACAF region.
Argentina began the match in the play-off berth having lost their previous three qualifiers and in danger of missing the World Cup for the first time since 1970.
Argentina went ahead with a goal from new cap Gonzalo Higuain two minutes after half-time but then lost the initiative they had held throughout the first half.
Peru substitute Hernan Rengifo equalised in the 90th minute before the 35-year-old Palermo, winning just his 10th cap, performed the great escape for the home side.
Palermo, who won seven caps in 1999 and his eighth under Maradona in the 1-0 defeat away to Paraguay last month, had had a chequered career full of highs and lows that has included a broken leg and knee ligament damage.
“This is incomparable, in the Argentina shirt,” a tearful Palermo said.
“It’s destiny, the one above marked me (for this).”
“He gives me that strength and thank God we got the triumph. I was taught never to give up, to learn from the bad moments.” — Reuters
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