Argentine duo Agustin Calleri and Lucas Arnold clinched a 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-2 victory over Alex Corretja and Albert Costa today to cut Spain's Davis Cup semi-final lead to 2-1 and keep the tie alive.
Spain, leading 2-0 after singles wins for Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya yesterday, were comprehensively outplayed in the doubles and will need to win at least one of Sunday's reverse singles to reach a final against either Australia or Switzerland.
Argentina edged the first set but Spain came back strongly in the second, as Corretja started to dominate the match with a series of forehand winners.
Spain took a 2-0 lead at the start of the third set but Costa double-faulted to hand Argentina three break-points in the next and that proved to be the turning point.
Argentina broke the Corretja serve to 15 to edge 3-2 ahead with a break and that was enough to give them the set.
The Spanish pair quickly found themselves 4-1 down in the fourth and even the backing of a 14,000 crowd could not inspire a home recovery.
Australia were leading Switzerland 2-1 after the doubles in the other semi-final in Melbourne.