Soccer: Paraguay end Trinidad hopes 2-0

KAISERSLAUTERN - Paraguay ended World Cup debutants Trinidad & Tobago's slim hopes of reaching the last 16 with a 2-0 victory today.

The South Americans, already eliminated, claimed their first points of the tournament through Brent Sancho's first-half own goal and an 86th-minute effort from Nelson Cuevas.

It was a tame end for Trinidad, who had a mathematical chance of securing second spot in Group B with a win.

The sides had failed to register a tournament goal coming into the game but it could have been 1-1 after five minutes in a lively start at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.

Recalled Soca Warriors keeper Kelvin Jack, who missed the first two games through injury, flung himself to his left to claw away Roque Santa Cruz's glancing header from a freekick.

Paraguay keeper Aldo Bobadilla was also tested at the other end by a powerful Cornell Glen header.

Trinidad carried the bigger threat from set pieces and Bobadilla punched clear from another awkward curling free kick.

Cruz and Nelson Haedo Valdez were off target with headers before the breakthrough came on 25 minutes when Roberto Acuna's free kick was headed on by Julio Dos Santos and the luckless Sancho deflected the ball into the net.

Trinidad coach Leo Beenhakker reacted by throwing on striker Kenwyne Jones in place of defender Avery John and the substitute almost made an instant impact when his fiercely driven free kick flew narrowly wide.

Paraguay had a goal chalked off when defender Denis Caniza slipped the ball under Jack but was denied by a late flag by the linesman, apparently for handball in the build up.

Trinidad's problems got worse before the break with Glen carried off on a stretcher after falling awkwardly.

Paraguay were on top and only another flying Jack save, to deny Valdez, and Densill Theobald's goalline clearance kept the scoreline down.

Trinidad finally conceded a second goal when Cuevas produced a neat finish after a one-two with Santa Cruz.

Substitute Russell Latapy went closest for Trinidad when his screamer from the edge of the box fizzed over.

Paraguay's captain and central defender Carlos Gamarra, 35, made his 110th and final appearance.

- REUTERS