 POLOKWANE: Martin Demichelis struck a late goal to set up Argentina for a 2-0 World Cup win over Greece Tuesday, top spot in Group B and a second-round showdown with Mexico.
The Bayern Munich defender ended the brave resistance of the Greeks with goalkeeper Alexandros Tzorvas to the fore by slamming the ball into the net from point-blank range on 77 minutes after a corner was not cleared.
And veteran substitute Martin Palermo added a second 60 seconds from full-time when he pounced on a rebound and hammered the ball into the corner of the net.
Veteran striker Palermo is well down the pecking order with Argentina having a surplus of strikers but he got the team out of jail in the qualifiers with a key strike against Peru and took his chance to mark his debut as a World Cup substitute at the age of 36.
"This is priceless. I will always be grateful to Diego Maradona and to the staff for their confidence in me, knowing there are others ahead of me. My teammates celebrated with me as if they had scored themselves," said Palermo.
On Argentina's chances of a third World Cup win he said simply: " I think we are on the right track."
World Footballer of the Year Lionel Messi captained the two-time champions in the absence of midfielder Javier Mascherano as coach Maradona made seven changes from the side that triumphed 4-1 against South Korea.
The South Americans gave a first start at the tournament to striker Diego Milito, whose two goals against Bayern Munich last month brought Inter Milan their first Champions League title in 45 years.
Argentina thrashed Greece 4-0 in the World Cup 16 years ago with Maradona among the scorers, but he later failed a drugs test and never played in the competition again.
A Greek team coached by wily German Otto Rehhagel set out a defensive stall and after a cagey opening period they came under pressure with Tzorvas called into action twice. |
6:02 AM | 
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