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 their first win in Buenos Aires.
PHOTO: AP
The results left both Brazil and Argentina with plenty of work to do ahead of their eagerly-awaited clash in Belo Horizonte tomorrow.
In the final game of the fifth round of matches, two goals from defender Gary Medel was enough to give Chile a 2-0 win over Bolivia.
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 by Paraguay’s Roque Santa Cruz and Salvador Cabanas.
“Paraguay made the most of their abilities,” Brazil coach Dunga said. “We knew it would be a tough match.”
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 Brazil keeper Julio Cesar. Paraguay went ahead in the 26th minute. A mis-hit corner by Edgar Barreto caused confusion at the near post and the ball shot through a crowded six-yard box for Blackburn Rovers striker Santa Cruz to side-foot home at the far post. Luis Fabiano then bustled into the box for Brazil and fed Robinho, but the Real Madrid man could not make contact with the ball as he slid into Paraguay keeper Justo Villar.
Paraguay had an up-and-down start after the interval. Right back Veron was shown a red card by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda in the 47th minute, but just moments later Paraguay were deservedly two goals ahead. Santa Cruz shot down the left flank and his drive was partially blocked by keeper Cesar, but Cabanas was well-positioned to rifle the ball home at the far post. Cabanas then hit the crossbar with a well-struck left-foot shot.
Inter Milan striker Adriano, on loan to Sao Paulo, came on for Mineiro with half-an-hour to go and then Julio Baptista entered in place of Diego in the 70th minute. But the changes were to no avail and Brazil, the only team to have played in every single World Cup finals, were left in fourth spot in the table.
Argentina, who lost their last qualifier to Colombia in November, had substitute Rodrigo Palacio to thank for rescuing a point against struggling Ecuador in a chilly Buenos Aires.
Argentina have not lost a home qualifier for 15 years, but that proud record was under threat from Patricio Urrutia’s 69th-minute goal for Ecuador.
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