Then don't use split: 
use warnings;
use strict;

my $str = "x.z.y";
my ($first, $second) = $str =~ /(.+)\.([^.]+)$/;
print "$first,$second\n";

__END__

x.z,y

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In reply to Re: split giving me a splitting headache by toolic
in thread split giving me a splitting headache by Anonymous Monk

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