ASUNCION -- Paraguay scored an injury time
winner to beat Chile in their World Cup qualifier on Saturday
despite their captain and goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert missing
a penalty earlier in the game.
In the game's last attack, midfielder Carlos Paredes rose
above the Chilean defence to head in a cross from Alfredo
Amarilla to elevate Paraguay back into second in the South
American World Cup qualifying group.
Chile, who are effectively out of the running for a World
Cup place, did not even have time to kick off.
Playing their first match since striker Ivan Zamorano
announced his international retirement in April, Chile appeared
to be on course to ending Paraguay's 100 percent home record in
the competition until Amarilla's late intervention.
Chilavert, who regularly takes free kicks and penalties at
club and international level, saw his kick brilliantly saved by
his opposite number Sergio Vargas in the 61st minute of a
generally poor match.
Vargas dived to his left and saved a low shot with his feet.
Chile had hotly contested the penalty in the first place and
television replays showed no obvious foul in the incident which
came as a free kick was floated into their penalty area.
Paraguay defender Celso Ayala was sent off ten minutes from
time for elbowing an opponent in the face.
His teammate Victor Quintana was lucky to escape a red card
in the first half when he clearly stamped on an opponent, but
the referee apparently did not see the incident.
Paraguay have 26 points from 13 games, one point more than
Ecuador who beat Peru 2-1 away earlier on Saturday.
The top four teams qualify for Japan and South Korea next
year. The fifth-placed team play off against the winners of the
Oceania region for another place.
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