Paraguay beat Venezuela in World Cup qualifier

ASUNCION, Sept 10 (AP) Christian Riveros and Nelson Haedo Valdez scored in the first half as Paraguay dispatched Venezuela 2-0 to extend its lead in South American qualifying for the World Cup on Tuesday.brParaguay has 17 points, followed by Brazil and Argentina with 12 each and Uruguay on 11.brVenezuela, loser of a third consecutive qualifier, was eighth in the 10-team standings with 7.brRiveros knocked a centre pass into the lower right corner of the net, beyond the reach of Venezuela goalkeeper Renny Vega in the 28th minute.brOff a pass from Roque Santa Cruz, Valdez split Venezuela's porous defense to score into an open net a minute before halftime.brSanta Cruz, back after an ankle injury made him unavailable for last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Argentina, directed Paraguay's powerful offense, while Venezuela - faced with a tough defense - failed to create offensive opportunities at Defensores del ChacobrStadium in the Paraguayan capital. Venezuela has yet to score in five World Cup qualifiers - all losses - in Asuncion. Paraguay next plays Colombia on Oct. 11. Venezuela hosts Brazil the same day.brOn Wednesday, its Chile vs. Colombia, Uruguay vs. Ecuador, Brazil vs. Bolivia, and Peru vs. Argentina.brLineupsbrParaguay Justo Villar, Carlos Bonet, Julio Manzur, Paulo Da Silva, Claudio Morel, Edgar Barreto (Aureliano Torres, 79), Jonathan Santana (Denis Caniza, 73), Victor Caceres, Christian Riveros, Nelson Haedo Valdez (Dante Lopez, 62), Roque Santa Cruz. Venezuela Renny Vega, Gerzon Chacon (Franklin Lucena, 34), Pedro Boada, Jonay Hernandez (Juan Fuemayor, 45), Jose Manuel Rey, Tomas Rincon, Miguel Mea Vitali, Alejandro Guerra, Alejandro Moreno, Juan Arango, Giancarlo Maldonado (Jose Torrealba, 72).