Argentina on verge of World Cup qualification

QUITO-NAMPA/AP Argentina guaranteed itself of at least fifth place in South America's football World Cup qualifying, and the resultant intercontinental playoff, by drawing 1-1 at Ecuador on Tuesday. In other games, Colombia, Uruguay and Chile all notched key wins, as the fight to qualify for Brazil 2014 moved toward its climax. Tuesday's results meant Bolivia and Paraguay cannot finish in the top four and get automatic qualification for the World Cup, but mathematically both have a shot at the playoff-yielding fifth spot. Argentina's Sergio Aguero opened the scoring in the thin air of Quito with a penalty in the fourth minute, but Segundo Castillo equalised for Ecuador with a header in the 17th. Once again, Barcelona star Lionel Messi was restricted to being a substitute - coming on for Argentina in the 60th minute - as he recovers from the hamstring injury which kept him out of the tail end of the Spanish season. Argentina improved to 26 points from 13 matches and appears certain to qualify for Brazil. Ecuador is five points back, in joint third place with Chile. They have four games to play, while Chile has three. Colombia maintained second place in the group with 23 points from 12 games, following a 2-0 home win over Peru. Radamel Falcao and Teofilio Gutierrez scored for Colombia in the coastal city of Barranquilla. Falcao converted a penalty in the 13th minute and Gutierrez scored in first-half stoppage time. Chile moved into the qualification zone with a 3-1 win at home against Bolivia.