Argentina (13) 16 Tries: Tiesi, Leguizamon Pens: Contepomi 2 Scotland (12) 24 Pens: Parks Drop-goals: Parks 2
By Andy Campbell
Dan Parks kicked all of Scotland's points as they became the first side to beat Argentina at the Estadio Monumental Jose Fierro in Tucuman.
Tries by Gonzalo Tiesi and Juan Manuel Leguizamon helped the Pumas build up a 13-12 half-time advantage.
Parks' three penalties and drop-goal had kept the Scots in contention at the break and his fourth penalty gave the tourists the lead for the first time.
And the fly-half added two more penalties and a drop-goal near the end.
The second and final Test takes place at the Estadio Jose Maria Minella in Mar del Plata next Saturday
The opening try demonstrated Argentina's counter-attacking strength as a turnover on the edge of their own 22 led to Felipe Contepomi mounting a charge from deep.
The captain exchanged passes with Horacio Agulla before slipping the ball through to Tiesi, who raced over the line before Sean Lamont could get across to tackle.
Contepomi's conversion attempt was beyond the far post and the tourists looked for a quick reply but Max Evans was crowded out on the left flank.
Parks and Contepomi exchanged penalties before the former missed his next effort with the boot.
Contepomi intercepted a stray pass and made another menacing advance only for Nick De Luca to make a vital tackle midway inside the Scotland half.
Parks made amends for his earlier miss by registering a penalty to bring the score to 8-6 but Argentina soon stretched their lead through Leguizamon's disputed try.
Parks' accurate kicking gave Scotland their victory
The flanker ran on to Agulla's pass, burst through the Scottish defence and appeared to have fallen just short of the line with his touch down.
But, after consulting the television match official, English referee Dave Pearson awarded the try, Contepomi again missing the conversion.
Parks sliced his fourth penalty wide of the upright but his next attempt, from long range, brought Scotland to within four points of their hosts.
Andy Robinson's side looked to go in front before the interval and a superb passing move ended with the award of a scrum and Leguizamon sin-binned for not rolling away.
Rory Lawson, Parks, Evans and De Luca worked the ball left to Lamont, who leapt to touch down in the corner but Martin Rodriguez-Gurruchaga's tackle had taken the winger into touch before he had grounded.
But Parks' drop-goal ensured the narrowest of leads for Argentina at the break.
Scotland maintained their attacking intent at the start of the second half but failed to make the most of another scrum deep inside Argentine territory, Evans mis-placing a pass at the vital moment.
However, Parks' sure-footed penalty gave the visitors a 15-13 lead in the 53rd minute.
And, after weathering some more pressure, Scotland put some daylight between themselves and their hosts when Parks converted another penalty but his following attempt swerved wide.
Lawson's replacement, Mike Blair, set Parks up for a successful drop goal but Contepomi's penalty gave the Pumas hope.
However, Parks' final penalty ensured Scotland's third win in 11 encounters with Argentina.
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