Paraguay stun Brazil in WC qualifier
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
MONTEVIDEO, June 16 (AFP): Ten-man Paraguay stunned Brazil 2-0 on Sunday to stay top of South American 2010 World Cup qualifying while Argentina needed a last-minute goal to avoid a humiliating defeat at home to Ecuador.
Despite having defender Dario Veron sent-off early in the second half, Paraguay were still too good for five-time world champions Brazil in Asuncion and now have 13 points after five games in the marathon qualifying competition.
They are three points ahead of Argentina, the top-ranked team in the FIFA rankings, who required a goal three minutes into stoppage time to rescue a point against Ecuador who came close to a first win in Buenos Aires.
The results left both Brazil and Argentina with plenty of work to do ahead of their eagerly-awaited clash in Belo Horizonte Wednesday.
"Paraguay made the most of their abilities," said Brazil coach Dunga. "We knew it would be a tough match."
Brazil, missing Kaka and Ronaldinho, were unimpressive in front of 35,000 fans at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion and were beaten by goals from Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas.
The result only served to heap the pressure on Dunga whose team slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat against Venezuela in a friendly earlier this month.
Cabanas gave early warning of the Paraguay danger when he hit the right hand post of Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar.
Paraguay went ahead in the 26th minute.
Despite having defender Dario Veron sent-off early in the second half, Paraguay were still too good for five-time world champions Brazil in Asuncion and now have 13 points after five games in the marathon qualifying competition.
They are three points ahead of Argentina, the top-ranked team in the FIFA rankings, who required a goal three minutes into stoppage time to rescue a point against Ecuador who came close to a first win in Buenos Aires.
The results left both Brazil and Argentina with plenty of work to do ahead of their eagerly-awaited clash in Belo Horizonte Wednesday.
"Paraguay made the most of their abilities," said Brazil coach Dunga. "We knew it would be a tough match."
Brazil, missing Kaka and Ronaldinho, were unimpressive in front of 35,000 fans at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion and were beaten by goals from Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas.
The result only served to heap the pressure on Dunga whose team slumped to a shock 2-0 defeat against Venezuela in a friendly earlier this month.
Cabanas gave early warning of the Paraguay danger when he hit the right hand post of Brazilian keeper Julio Cesar.
Paraguay went ahead in the 26th minute.