A brilliant individual try by Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino gave Argentina a 13-12 victory over Scotland in a tense, bruising Rugby World Cup clash.
Replacement winger Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino beat four defenders from 35 metres out to help Argentina to snatch a 13-12 victory over Scotland on Sunday and keep alive their quarterfinal chances.
Amorosino's 72nd-minute try, converted by captain Felipe Contepomi, brought Argentina back from 12-6 down to give the Pumas, who finished third at the 2007 World Cup, victory at Wellington Regional Stadium.
Scotland's willingness to spin the ball wide did not result in points as they turned the ball over numerous times while in the Pumas' half, Reuters reports.
The first half scoring was restricted to three penalties - one to Contepomi and one each to Chris Paterson and Ruaridh Jackson to give the Scots a 6-3 lead at halftime.
Scotland had the advantage of a blustery southerly in the second spell, and were prepared to resort to high kicks in the swirling wind to put pressure on the Pumas in their own half, though again they failed to capitalise.
Contepomi tied the game at 6-6 in the 62nd minute with his second penalty, though Jackson struck back immediately to snatch back the lead when the Scots forwards set him up for a 40-metre drop goal.
Replacement halfback Dan Parks extended the lead and appeared to have won the match with a drop goal, until Amorosino sealed the win with eight minutes to go which Contepomi converted.
Both teams and pool B leaders England are still in the hunt for the two quarterfinal places to be decided next weekend when England play Scotland in Auckland on 1 October, and Argentina play Georgia in Palmerston North on 2 October.
Scorers
Argentina: Try: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino. Penalties: Felipe Contepomi (2). Conversion: Contepomi.
Scotland: Penalties: Chris Paterson, Ruaridh Jackson. Drop goals: Jackson, Dan Parks.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England).
