BUENOS AIRES, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Argentina ended a run of six successive draws by beating neighbors Uruguay 2-1 in their FIFA World Cup qualifier on Saturday.

    Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero put Argentina 2-0 ahead within 15 minutes as they threatened to run away with the match.

Argentina's Sergio Aguero (L) celebrates after scoring during the FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying football match against Uruguay held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, October 11, 2008. Argentina won 2-1. (Xinhua Photo/Martin Zabala) Photo Gallery>>>

    In a game of ferocious tackling, punctuated by scuffles between players, Uruguay battled their way back into the contest and Diego Lugano pulled one back five minutes before halftime.

    The win left Argentina with 16 points from nine games in the ten-team South American group while Uruguay have 12.

    Paraguay referee Carlos Torres played an unwitting part in Argentina's first goal after only six minutes. A clearance out of the Uruguay defence hit the official and ricocheted straight to Juan Roman Riquelme.

    The enigmatic No.10, whose place was under threat after a run of lacklustre displays, delivered a perfect cross to the far post that was headed in by Messi.

    Uruguay had barely recovered from that when the hosts struck again following another move down the left. Esteban Cambiasso fired against the post from Carlos Tevez's cross, and Aguero snapped up the rebound.

    Uruguay came back fighting, replacing fullback Jorge Fucile with forward Edinson Cavani in the 25th minute, and deservedly pulled one back five minutes before the break.

Argentina's Juan Roman Riquelme (L) vies with Uruguay's Diego Perez during their FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying football match held in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, October 11, 2008. Argentina won 2-1.(Xinhua Photo/Martin Zabala) Photo Gallery>>>

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