Soccer: Paraguay advances after 3-1 win over Slovenia

SOGWIPO, South Korea - Ten-man Paraguay clinched a World Cup second round place with an astonishing comeback, defeating Slovenia 3-1 thanks to a goal six minutes from time by substitute Nelson Cuevas this morning (NZT).

Paraguay's last-gasp strike -- Cuevas' second goal of the match -- was enough to send them through on goals scored instead of South Africa who lost 3-2 to Spain.

The South Americans, who went one-nil down just before the break, grabbed second place in group B behind Spain who had already qualified before Wednesday's matches.

Paraguay will now play group E winners Germany in the knockout phase of the tournament in Sogwipo on Saturday.

"You have to suffer in football," said Paraguay coach Cesare Maldini.

"Our team suffered a lot today. We had to fight a lot in this match, but our team is fit.

"I had some hope that we would win and qualify. We now have Germany. It will be a very difficult match as are all matches in the World Cup. We will relax, we have time to think about it and we will play as we know how an see what happens."

Paraguay's flamboyant goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert was delighted with the victory.

"I'm very proud to be Paraguayan. We are very proud to be a small country with a great team".

Cuevas got his first goals for his country on his World Cup debut to take them through after an equaliser in the 66th minute was followed by a left-foot drive to secure qualification.

In between fellow substitute Jorge Campos crashed in their second goal on 73 minutes to set up the thrilling finale.

Paraguay, with a draw and a defeat from their opening two games, knew they had a mountain to climb before the start -- not only needing victory but faced with overturning an inferior goal difference and hoping South Africa would lose against Spain.

Their task was made harder midway through the first half when Paredes, booked for a foul on Miran Pavlin in the fourth minute, tangled with Acimovic and was dismissed. TV replays showed Paredes' trailing hand hit the Slovenian's face.

Until then Paraguay had carried the greater threat with Jose Cardozo going close with two headers.

Francisco Arce then forced Mladen Dabanovic to beat away his fierce drive, and the Slovenian goalkeeper also tipped over Guido Alvarenga's effort from distance.

But Slovenia, with nothing to play for but pride after two defeats in their first World Cup finals, weathered the storm. Jose Luis Chilavert turned Sebastjan Cimrotic's shot around the post and Srecko Katanec's side then made the breakthrough in first-half injury time.

Acimovic was the creator and finisher, his mazy run into the box from the right ending with a shot that thudded home from a narrow angle off the legs of Chilavert.

The same player almost doubled the lead six minutes after the break when his curling left-foot strike beat a static Chilavert but cannoned against the crossbar.

Paraguay were handed a lifeline with 24 minutes to go when Cuevas, who had only been on the pitch five minutes, jinked in from the right and beat Dabanovic low to his left.

With 10 minutes remaining Chilavert tried to deliver on his promise to be the first keeper to score at a World Cup when he struck a 35-metre free kick that Dabanovic did well to tip over.

Slovenia's Nastja Ceh was sent off a minute later for a dangerous tackle before Campos drilled home a second goal on 73 minutes as Paraguay launched wave after wave of attacks on the Slovenian goal, and Cuevas' second goal sealed their triumph.

- REUTERS

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