Updated

Ever Banega scored on the stroke of halftime to salvage a point for Argentina in a 1-1 draw with Bolivia in World Cup qualifying on Tuesday.

The hosts got off the mark first 25 minutes into the match when Marcelo Moreno got on the end of a cross from Alejandro Chumancero and nodded it past Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero for the 1-0 lead.

But the home side was unable to hold the lead as the Argentines struck back with an equalizing goal in the 44th minute when Clemente Rodriguez floated a cross into the box and Banega got his head to it, directing the ball past Bolivian goalkeeper Sergio Galarza to put the sides back on level terms.

Argentina remains on top of the South American group with 24 points from 11 matches, while Bolivia stays second from the bottom with nine points from 11 games.

Elsewhere in South America on Tuesday, Jefferson Montero netted a second-half double and was supported by goals from Felipe Caicedo and Cristian Benitez as Ecuador rolled to a 4-1 result over Paraguay.

Esteban Paredes scored 11 minutes in and Eduardo Vargas added a second tally 12 minutes from time as Chile posted a 2-0 victory over Uruguay, and in Tuesday's final CONMEBOL qualifier, Rondon found the back of the net 13 minutes into the match as Venezuela upended Colombia by a 1-0 score.