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Argentina kept their World Cup qualification hopes in their own hands with a dramatic 2-1 win over Peru. Debutant Gonzalo Higuain, starting ahead of Carlos Tevez, nodded them in front in the second half before Hernan Rengifo headed a last-minute equaliser. But in added time, Martin Palermo, back after a 10-year absence, tapped in to put Diego Maradona's team fourth, the last automatic place, with a game left. Chile sealed their qualification with a 4-2 win in Colombia to take third spot. It is the first time that Chile, under the guidance of former Argentina coach Marcelo Bielsa, have reached the finals since 1998. They had fallen behind but Bielsa sent on the more attacking Jorge Valdivia and his team went 2-1 up within four minutes. The key game for Maradona's Argentina is on Wednesday against Uruguay, who are only a point behind in the fifth-place play-off berth after beating Ecuador, who are now in sixth another point back. "I told him at half-time 'go and resolve this'," Maradona said of his decision to bring on Palermo. "It was a miracle from Saint Palermo that gives us another life." In driving rain Maradona's under-pressure side did everything but score in a first half they dominated from start to finish, with the gifted Lionel Messi at the heart of the majority of their inventive attacks. They finally took the lead in the 48th minute when Higuain ran on to Pablo Aimar's pass and slotted into the far corner. Peru had a penalty appeal rejected when when former Newcastle midfielder Nolberto Solano's shot appeared to be blocked by the arm of Emiliano Insua. With Argentina appearing content to hold on for the 1-0 scoreline, Rengifo nodded home a cross from the left from barely two yards to bring Peru level. But just as Argentina's World Cup dreams looked to be slipping away, Palermo give his famous coach a lifeline. With eight Argentinian players in a packed Peru penalty area, the Boca Juniors striker found himself in the right place at the right time to convert a simple chance after a low ball across the box came all the way through to him. There was more drama to come as Rainer Torres tried his luck straight from the kick-off, but his effort struck the bar and Argentina recorded a vital victory.