Late goals by Martin Palermo and Ignacio Canutto helped Argentina avoid an embarrassing loss to Jamaica in Mar del Plata.

The Reggae Boyz were poised to claim a historic win over the two-time FIFA World Cup™ winners courtesy of Ryan Johnson's strike, but a home-based Argentina team managed to respond to triumph at the Estadio Jose Maria Minella.

Palermo levelled after 83 minutes and Canutto netted the winner in stoppage time. Striker Johnson moved in between Argentina centre-backs Leonel Galeano and Mariano Echeverria to head in Lovel Palmer's cross from the right.

But Palermo enhanced his prospects of a place in Diego Maradona's 23-man squad for the FIFA World Cup finals by meeting Jesus Mendez's cross with a firm header which Dwayne Miller could not hold. Canutto, an 89th-minute substitute, then met a Palermo pass to score the winner.

Argentina, who were drawn in Group B for South Africa 2010 alongside Nigeria, Korea Republic and Greece, will play their next warm-up friendly on 3 March, meeting Germany in Munich.