A late try from Lucas Amorosino was enough to see Argentina beat Scotland 13-12 on Sunday, going a long way to putting the Pumas into the World Cup quarter-finals.
It was a tense game in Wellington as the Pumas came from behind to claim a crucial victory.
Argentina had lost their opener to England but beat Romania 43-8, now play Georgia in their final match while the Scots must defeat the unbeaten English to claim a knockout spot.
Felipe Contepomi kicked two penalties and converted the try for Argentina. Scotland’s points came from a penalty each to Chris Paterson and Ruaridh Jackson. While Dan Parks kicked Jackson both kicked drop-goals in the second half.
The match was played in pouring rain, which caused a litany of errors and saw the set piece become a complete lottery.
Paterson and Contepomi both missed early shots at goal before the latter got the Pumas on the board after nineteen minutes.
Scotland’s best attacking moment of the half was squandered when Al Strokosch blew a three on two down the left wing.
Argentina struggled in attack, and it was Scotland that went into half-time in the lead through two penalties in three minutes, the latter a long range effort from 47 metres.
Contepomi levelled in the 63rd minute, nailing his second penalty after the Scottish scrum collapsed.
That lead lasted for only a minute as Jackson slotted over a drop-goal.
In a stunning finish to the error riddled match, replacement Parks kicked a drop with his first touch to stretch Scotland out to 12-6.
But terrible defence saw replacement Amorosino burst through four tackles, turning a fairly innocent play into a try. Contepomi showed nerves of steel to bag the conversion and take a 13-12 lead.
Parks’ snatched left-footed drop-goal with a minute to play went wide, leaving Argentina in the driving seat for qualification.
Argentina 13
Try: Amorosino
Con: Contepomi
Pen: Contepomi 2
Scotland 12
Pen: Paterson, Jackson
Drop: Jackson, Parks