Carlos Tevez missed a first-half penalty as Argentina slumped to a 2-0 loss in Ecuador in their World Cup qualifier.
Ecuador scored in the last 20 minutes to hand Argentina their second defeat in four World Cup qualifiers under Diego Maradona.
Lionel Messi also squandered a superb early chance for Argentina, who at least improved on their 6-1 defeat to Bolivia in another high altitude match in April.
Argentina remaini n the top four of the 10-team South American group with 22 points from 14 games but they're only two points ahead of Ecuador.
The four qualify directly for South Africa and the fifth tean plays off over two legs against the fourth team from Central and North America.
