Alonso, who had only netted five goals in 65 appearances for Spain prior to the match, gave Vicente del Bosque's side a deserved half-time lead only for Argentina to hit back though Lionel Messi's penalty on the hour mark.

Both sides looked capable of winning the match - which was part of the Spanish Football Federation's centenary celebrations - after that, but it was the European champions who took the honours thanks to Alonso's 86th-minute spot-kick.

The result means Spain have now won 38 of their 43 games since the start of 2007, losing just once, and they certainly look like being the team to stop in South Africa.

Elsewhere, Giampaolo Pazzini was denied a late winner by the referee as Italy and Holland fought out a 0-0 draw in Pescara.

Substitute Pazzini was judged to have used his arm to bundle the ball home with seven minutes remaining, while at the other end Gianluigi Buffon made a fine save from Rafael van der Vaart to mark his 100th cap with a clean sheet.

There was bad news for Holland and Arsenal, though, with Dutch striker Robin van Persie leaving the pitch nursing an injury just 16 minutes in.

South Africa played out a goalless draw with Japan as preparations for next summer's World Cup finals gathered pace.

The tournament hosts could not breach the defence of Japan in Nelson Mandela Bay on a day when the frantic fight to reach the finals next June continued across the globe.

The United States were beaten 1-0 by fellow World Cup qualifiers Slovakia in Bratislava, with Marek Hamsik's first-half strike the difference between the sides.

Macedonia secured a convincing 3-0 win over Canada as Goce Sedloski struck first before star striker Goran Pandev scored twice from the spot while Daniel Niculae's second-half goal gave Romania a 1-0 win over Poland

Maxim Bordachev fired Belarus into an early lead against Saudi Arabia, but after goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov was shown the red card, Nasser Al-Shamrani struck back to make it 1-1.

Estonia and Albania were also unable to break the deadlock as their friendly in Tallinn ended in a goalless draw, with the hosts' centre-back Raio Piiroja sent off late on.

World Cup finalists Switzerland lost 1-0 to Norway as John Carew converted a penalty, while Eduardo and Mate Bilic each scored twice as Croatia thrashed Liechtenstein 5-0.

Luxembourg came from behind to draw 1-1 with Iceland. Gardar Johannsson gave the visitors the lead but Kim Kintziger's first international goal earnt a draw for the home side.

And Denmark and South Korea also played out a draw, though theirs was a goalless encounter in Esbjerg.

Everton's Marouane Fellaini and Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen both scored - as did Kevin Mirallas - as Belgium beat Hungary 3-0.