Football: Argentina draw 0-0 with Peru, World Cup hopes in balance

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Argentina were held to a 0-0 draw by Peru in their crucial 2018 World Cup qualifying game on Thursday (Oct 5), leaving the South American giants' hopes of reaching next year's finals in Russia hanging by a thread.

With one round of games remaining in South America's qualifying tournament, Argentina are outside the qualification places.

It means Argentina will be reliant on results elsewhere going in their favour next Tuesday if they are to avoid failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

They will finish their qualification campaign against eighth-placed Ecuador on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Chile survived a late scare to beat Ecuador 2-1 on Thursday and keep alive their hopes of reaching the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia as they moved into third-place in the 10-team South American qualifying group.

The top four teams qualify automatically for Russia with the fifth-placed side facing Oceania champions New Zealand in a two-legged play-off.

However, Tigres striker Eduardo Vargas helped them back to their winning ways with a goal after 22 minutes.

Alexis Sanchez stole the ball on the edge of the box and fed midfielder Jorge Valdivia and his pass left Vargas in space 12 yards out to crash the ball past keeper Maximo Banguera.

Romario Ibarra equalised for Ecuador with eight minutes remaining but Sanchez was on hand three minutes later when Banguera could only parry a shot on the edge of the six-yard box.

Sanchez then had the simplest of tasks slipping the ball home for the winner.