Asuncion, Paraguay/Salvador, Brazil, Sep 10 (DPA) Paraguay beat Argentina 1-0 in Asuncion to secure a berth in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and complicate Argentina’s chances of qualifying.
Brazil, who qualified over the weekend, continued Wednesday to cruise on toward the global tournament with a 4-2 win over Chile while Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela also won their games to stay in the race for a World Cup place.
In a tight edition of South America’s World Cup qualifiers, the first four teams directly get a place in the global tournament. The fifth-placed team is to clash with a team from North or Central America or the Caribbean in a play-off with the winner advancing to the World Cup.
Brazil have 33 points, to Paraguay’s 27. Chile are currently third in the rankings with 27 points from 16 games while Ecuador stand fourth with 23 points, followed by Argentina on 22 points, Uruguay and Venezuela with 21 each and Colombia at 20.
With a remaining two rounds of play, scheduled for October, eight of the region’s 10 teams still have a chance to play in South Africa.
In Asuncion, Nelson Haedo Valdez scored the lone goal for Paraguay in the 29th minute after a pass from striker Salvador Cabanas. Moreover, Paraguay hit the woodwork twice in the first half and appeared to dominate the match from start to finish.
“We stayed orderly, and that’s what is important,” Cabanas said.
Argentina put on a poor performance even before Juan Sebastian Veron was sent off in the 53rd minute for a second bookable offence.
The drop in form was particularly obvious in Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi – arguably the best footballer in the world – who once again failed to live up to expectations for the national team.
“We are not yet out of the World Cup,” Argentina coach Diego Maradona said at a press conference. “We have a last chance. We will hold on to that.”
Paraguay joined Brazil as South America’s first representatives to qualify for South Africa while the Argentine team appeared to be at risk of not qualifying at all, particularly based on poor recent performances, which have brought their qualifying record to six wins, four draws and six losses.
Brazil were again impressive. Despite the fact that they had already obtained a World Cup berth and despite the absences Wednesday of stars like Kaka, Robinho, Luis Fabiano and Lucio, the side coached by Carlos Dunga played well against Chile.
Villarreal striker Nilmar was the man of the match with a hat-trick and goals in the 31st, 74th and 76th minutes while Julio Baptista scored Brazil’s remaining goal in the 40th minute.
Chile’s goals were both scored by striker Humberto Suazo in the 45th minute and the 52nd minute, the first of them from the spot.
Under the rain, Brazil had pulled ahead 2-0, but they appeared to struggle briefly after Felipe Melo was sent off in the 49th minute.
Chile thus missed their first chance to qualify for the World Cup, but they put on a good performance even in defeat against a brilliant Brazilian side.
Earlier Wednesday, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela all obtained 3-1 wins to keep up their hopes of playing in South Africa.
Edison Mendez put Ecuador ahead four minutes into the game while Luis Valencia scored a brace for the visitors at high altitude in La Paz in the 46th and 56th minutes. Gerardo Yacerotte scored the lone goal for Bolivia in the 86th minute.
In Montevideo, Luis Sanchez put the hosts ahead six minutes into the game, but the Uruguayan win appeared to be at risk when defender Carlos Valdez was sent off for an ugly foul in the 29th minute.
Just after the break, however, striker Teofilo Gutierrez was sent off for Colombia to put the two sides level on 10 men.
Jackson Martinez equalized in the 63rd minute, but Andres Scotti put Uruguay ahead again in the 76th minute, and Sebastian Eguren set the definitive 3-1 three minutes before the end of the game.
In Puerto La Cruz, hosts Venezuela kept up their hopes of playing their first-ever World Cup.
Nicolas Fedor scored Wednesday for Venezuela in the 33rd minute while Peru equalized nine minutes later through an own goal from Venezuelan defender Juan Fuenmayor.
Fedor again pulled the host ahead in the 52nd minute while Ronald Vargas set the definitive 3-1 in the 70th minute.
rounak