NUREMBERG, Germany, June 18 (Reuters) - Luciano Figueroa

scored a hat-trick to lead Argentina through to the semi-finals

of the Confederations Cup with a scrambled 4-2 win over

Australia on Saturday.

Argentina, leading 3-0 by the 53rd minute with two goals

from Figueroa and a Juan Roman Riquelme penalty, gave Australia

hope when Fabricio Coloccini conceded a penalty which John

Aloisi converted in the 61st minute.

Aloisi then capitalised on a terrible mistake from defender

Gabriel Heinze to grab his fourth goal of the tournament and

make it 3-2 with 20 minutes to go.

But Figueroa, promoted to the starting line-up for

Argentina's second game in the competition, tapped the ball in

following a Riquelme free-kick one minute from time.

Victory sent Argentina and Germany through to the last four

with six points apiece, after the hosts had beaten Tunisia 3-0

earlier in the day.

The two favourites will fight it out for top spot in Group A

in Nuremberg on Tuesday.

Argentina's second victory looked certain as they went 3-0

up with cool efficiency in front of a sparse crowd at the

Franken-Stadion.

The South Americans took the lead in the 12th minute with a

brilliantly executed goal.

Riquelme exchanged passes with Figueroa outside the box

before feeding Mario Santana. His weighted ball found Figueroa

12 metres out and the Villarreal striker blasted past goalkeeper

Mark Schwarzer.

Javier Saviola was pulled down by Lucas Neill 20 minutes

later and Riquelme squeezed his penalty beyond Schwarzer.

ARGENTINA CONTROL

Argentina kept the ball for the remainder of the half with

something close to disdain and the introduction of Mark Viduka

to Australia's attack immediately after the break did little to

disturb the South Americans.

Australia's failure to clear an innocuous header from Juan

Pablo Sorin presented Figueroa with a chance to sweep in his

second goal eight minutes into the second period.

Coloccini's foul on Aloisi gave Australia a route back into

the game and the big striker was on target again in the 70th

minute thanks to Heinze's mistake.

The Manchester United defender inexplicably tried to chest a

high ball back to goalkeeper German Lux rather than clear

upfield. The ball fell straight to Aloisi, who gratefully

smashed it into the roof of the net from a couple of metres.

Argentina were rattled but substitute Esteban Cambiasso made

a couple of important interceptions on the edge of the area and

coach Jose Pekerman's side were able to breathe a sigh of relief

when Figueroa completed his hat-trick.