BUENOS AIRES, June 15 (Reuters) - Argentina substitute Rodrigo Palacio scored in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to salvage a 1-1 home draw with Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday.

Ecuador had been poised to hand Argentina their first home

defeat in a qualifier since 1993 after going ahead with a

brilliant strike from Patricio Urrutia in the 69th minute.

The draw left Argentina with 10 points from five games in

the South American group and Ecuador with four.

The visitors surrounded referee Rene Ortube at the end,

apparently angry at the amount of time added on.

'We were lucky to draw the match with the last move of the

game,' Argentina coach Alfio Basile told reporters.

'We played well in our last games and today we didn't.

There's not much to add.'

Ecuador coach Sixto Vizuete said there was too much

stoppage time.

'I'm not satisfied, I'm hurt,' he said.

'In the first half, there were two stoppages and the

referee added on two minutes. In the second half, there were

absolutely none and he added four minutes.'

Argentina, who visit arch-rivals Brazil in another

qualifier on Wednesday, were generally unimpressive.

A poor first half failed to produce any clearcut chances.

With Juan Roman Riquelme having a quiet game in midfield,

Argentina failed to get the ball to strikers Lionel Messi and

Sergio Aguero.

Their best move ended with Messi just failing to make

contact with a low cross from Maxi Rodriguez.

Riquelme wasted two free kicks early in the second half

before Ecuador had a penalty appeal turned down when Joffre

Guerron burst into the area and appeared to be pushed over by

Gabriel Heinze.

Guerron and Carlos Tenorio were a constant problem for the

Argentine defence and both were involved in the a

superbly-worked goal in the 69th minute.

The pair combined for Tenorio to backheel the ball into the

path of Urrutia, who rifled in a 20-metre shot off the

crossbar.

Argentina replied with a Julio Cruz header which flew just

wide before Aguero forced a good save from goalkeeper Jose

Cevallos.

Ecuador appeared to have done enough to win but lost

concentration in the closing seconds.

A long goal kick by Roberto Abbondanzieri found its way

past two defenders and landed perfectly for Palacio to fire

past Cevallos, who got a hand to the ball but could not stop it

bouncing into the goal.