Winners are grinners: Maradona soaks up his side's victory [AFP]

Bolatti netted five minutes after coming on as a substitute to clinch Argentina the fourth automatic qualification spot from the South American region, joining already-qualified Brazil, Paraguay and Chile.

Uruguay now face a two-legged playoff against Costa Rica.

The visitors had started the match in danger of missing out on the World Cup for the first time since 1970.

A loss to Uruguay coupled with an Ecuador win in Chile would have produced that scenario.

However, Maradona was celebrating wildly on the touchline after Bolatti's goal guaranteed them a spot in the finals next year in South Africa.

The talisman of Argentine football wept and hugged members of his coaching team in an outpouring of emotion at the final whistle.

Having replaced Alfio Basile as coach midway through the qualification campaign, Maradona's credentials for the job had been widely questioned after his side lost to Bolivia, Ecuador, Paraguay and at home to Brazil.

"I want to dedicate this to all the Argentines," he told Argentine television. "I thank the squad."

Ecuador eliminated

Ecuador was eliminated from World Cup contention after a 1-0 loss at Chile.

Humberto Suazo scored in the 53rd minute.

Ecuador needed a victory to finish fifth and earn a playoff with the No. 4 team from North and Central America and the Caribbean.

A victory also would have given Ecuador a mathematical chance of qualifying automatically as the No. 4 team.

Already safely qualified for the 32-team finals in South Africa, Chile dominated the early exchanges against Ecuador with striker Suazo wasting several good opportunities.

Gary Medel also went close with a header saved by Ecuador goalkeeper Marcelo Elizaga.

Christian Lara crossed dangerously for Ecuador in the 28th, but the Chilean defence managed to clear. Edison Mendez also saw his effort go wide just as the half ended.

Suazo gave Chile the lead shortly after halftime, meeting a cross from Arturo Vidal in the 53rd. The goal was Suazo's 10th in South American qualifying, making him the competition's top scorer.

Ecuador committed more players forward in an attempt to rescue the win needed to keep its World Cup hopes alive.

Ismael Fuentes was sent off for Chile in the 84th minute for a foul on Segundo Castillo, but Ecuador was unable to make the extra man count in the final minutes.

Brazil end in stalemate

Venezuela and Brazil played to a 0-0 draw in the final round of World Cup qualifying in South America on Wednesday.

Brazil has already qualified for the World Cup, the only country to play in each one dating to 1930, and Venezuela was already eliminated going into the match.

Brazil finished with 34 points in 18 qualifying games and Venezuela, the only one of the 10 teams in South America to never play in the World Cup, ended with 22.

Brazil dominated the game and had most of the possession, even after defender Miranda was sent off in the 55th on a red card following a hard tackle on Giancarlo Maldonado.

Despite the man advantage, Venezuela continued to do all of the defending as Brazil pressed for a winning goal.

The match was played before 23,746 fans.

Consolation for Peru

Johan Fano's goal in the 53rd minute lifted Peru to a 1-0 victory over Bolivia in a match between the two weakest teams in South American qualifying.

Bolivia played a man short from the 40th after Rosauro Rivero was sent off on his second yellow card.

Despite the victory, Peru finished last after the final round of South American qualifying.

Peru won only three of 18 games and finished with 13 points. Bolivia wound up with 15.

Honduras through

Costa Rica were seconds away from securing a place at the World Cup on Wednesday but an injury-time equaliser from the United States pushed them into a playoff and handed Honduras a ticket to next year's finals in a dramatic finale to Concacaf qualifying.

Honduras, whose only previous appearance in a World Cup finals came in 1982, joined the United States and Mexico as the three automatic qualifiers from North and Central America and the Caribbean region.

Costa Rica now face a two-legged playoff against Uruguay, who finished fifth in the South American qualifying group.