Juninho Pernambucano put Brazil ahead with a trademark free kick before substitute Jose Castillo replied for Bolivia after 50 minutes of a match played at 3,600 metres above sea level.

The hosts were allowed to get away with several nasty challenges in the second half thanks to lenient refereeing by Uruguayan Jorge Larrionda.

Bolivia peppered the Brazil goal with long-range shots while the visitors tried to slow the game down.

Brazil went ahead in the 25th minute when Juninho's dipping 30-metre shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced into the net off goalkeeper Carlos Arias.

Roque Junior nearly added a second when he headed wide following a corner.

At the other end Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar made two outstanding saves in less than a minute, blocking a header from Miguel Hoyos and parrying a powerful Julio Baldivieso drive.

Joaquin Botero wasted another chance when he broke down the right and fired across the face of the goal.

Bolivia equalised five minutes after the break when Daner Pachi's long ball forward was headed down by Botero into the path of Castillo, who rifled home from 12 metres.

Bolivia then appeared to be given a licence to kick by referee Larrionda.

Midfielder Gonzalo Galindo was allowed to stay on the field when he blatantly kicked Cicinho from behind after the ball had gone.

Carmelo Angulo scythed down Renato, then Galindo pushed over Robinho, shouted at the referee and still escaped a booking.

Earlier, Sergio Jauregui was also let off for a cynical tackle from behind on Robinho.

Brazil finished the game on the attack and were let down by unusually poor shooting.

Away in Buenos Aires, Argentina scored twice in the final ten minutes for a hard-earned 2-0 win over a stubborn Peru.

Eigthteen-year-old Lionel Messi, given his first start by coach Jose Pekerman, set up the opener when he won a penalty, converted by Juan Roman Riquelme, before defender Luis Guadelupe put through his own goal in injury time.

Already-qualified Argentina remained top of the 10-nation South American World Cup qualifying group with 34 points from 17 games and increased their lead over Brazil to three points.

Argentina are away to Uruguay in their final game on Wednesday while Brazil, who have also qualified, host Venezuela.

Out of contention for a finals berth, Peru stayed ninth with 15 points.

Regarded as one of the most gifted Argentine players to play for the national side in years, Messi had made only two brief appearances before Sunday.

He was sent off after less than two minutes of his debut in a friendly against Hungary in August and was given another nine minutes in last month's 1-0 qualifying defeat by Paraguay.

Messi gave the Peru defence a torrid time with his speed but also found the going tough as he was repeatedly fouled by the visitors.

Captain Juan Pablo Sorin had Argentina's two best first-half efforts, both close range headers which were brilliantly saved by Leao Butron.

Apart from that, Peru's spoiling tactics and massed defence frustrated the hosts.

Argentina continued to struggle after halftime and Peru nearly grabbed a shock lead on the hour when Paolo Guerrero outpaced his marker but shot over the goal.

Peru had another chance in the 73rd minute when Guerrero forced a point-blank save from Roberto Abbondanzieri in a goalmouth scramble.

Two minutes later, Butron made his best save yet when he turned over Hernan Crespo's goal-bound header.

The Peru keeper's luck ran out in the 78th minute when he upended Messi to concede a penalty and was shown the red card.

Play was held up for four minutes as Peru protested the decision before Riquelme sent Erick Delgado the wrong way in the 82nd minute.

Argentina added another in injury-time when Guadelupe turned Carlos Tevez's low cross into his own net.