Argentina make final on penalties

Ricardo Osorio is consoled by his Mexican team-mates after missing the vital penalty

Argentina booked their place in the Confederations Cup final by beating Mexico 6-5 on penalties after the tie ended 1-1 after extra time on Sunday.

Carlos Salcido put Mexico ahead after 104 minutes before Luciano Figueroa equalised six minutes later.

Argentina's Javier Saviola was sent off in the 90th minute and Mexico's Rafael Marquez was dismissed three minutes later for another rash challenge.

Argentina will meet old rivals Brazil in Wednesday's final in Frankfurt.

The scrappy match, which only flickered briefly into life at the very end, finally tipped Argentina's way in the shoot-out after the first 10 penalties were all converted.

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Mexican defender Ricardo Osorio was the first to miss when Argentina keeper German Lux saved low to his right.

Esteban Cambiasso then put the Argentines through with a well-struck shot to maintain his country's astonishingly successful record in semi-finals in major competitions.

Both teams had finished regular time with 10 men after Saviola was red-carded for a high and late challenge on Mexico's Gonzalo Pineda, while Marquez was sent off shortly after for a challenge on Pablo Aimar.

Saviola will miss the final and Marquez, too, will miss Mexico's play-off against Germany for third place in Leipzig earlier on Wednesday.

It was tough to withstand Argentina and we were also getting tired Mexico coach Ricardo La Volpe

Mexico's Argentine-born coach Ricardo La Volpe said his team lost momentum after Marquez' dismissal.

"We had problems when Marquez was sent off. That made it difficult for us and it was tough to withstand Argentina and we were also getting tired.

"When you are one goal up against a team like Argentina, you have to do a lot of work to keep them out of your half and Argentina kept up the pressure and equalised."

Argentine coach Jose Pekerman praised his side's resolve, saying: "It was not a great match but we fought hard, especially in the second half and extra time.

"We didn't want to settle for a draw. We were fighting to win."