Paraguay record their first three points of the qualifiers with narrow win over Ecuador in Asuncion.
Paraguay defeated Ecuador 2-1 on Friday to record their first three points of their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at the Defensores del Chaco stadium in Asuncion.
After a slow and rather ordinary start to the match, as the minutes ticked by Paraguay came more and more into the match, controlling their rivals with dominant passing and aggressive soccer.
Ecuador looked switched off, however, each time Antonio Valencia moved forward he created problems for the Paraguay defense. The Manchester United winger looked very dangerous in an attacking sense, however, often he was provided with little help from his team-mates.
In the 20th minute, Marcelo Estigarribia went on a brilliant solo run and he unleashed a powerful shot that was pushed out for a corner-kick by Ecuador goalkeeper Maximo Banguera. Two minutes later Dario Veron tested Banguera with a shot from a Richard Ortiz cross, but his effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
One minute into the second half, Victor Ayala pumped a dangerous free-kick into the area and Christian Riveros connected to it with a precise volley at the back post to put the Paraguayans ahead.
Before the Ecuadorians had any time to react, in the 57th minute Paraguay went two-up, when Veron met a dipping corner-kick delivered by Ayala with a fine header.
Ayala, who was in charge of executing all of Paraguay's dead-ball situations, almost found the back of the net himself, but his dangerous free-kick was well-saved by Banguera.
A lapse of concentration from the Paraguay defense allowed Joao Rojas to score a consolation goal for the visitors, when he connected to a short cross from Valencia with a clever header in the 92nd minute.
In the fourth round of the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay travel to Santiago to do battle with Chile, while Ecuador take on Peru in Quito.
After a slow and rather ordinary start to the match, as the minutes ticked by Paraguay came more and more into the match, controlling their rivals with dominant passing and aggressive soccer.
Ecuador looked switched off, however, each time Antonio Valencia moved forward he created problems for the Paraguay defense. The Manchester United winger looked very dangerous in an attacking sense, however, often he was provided with little help from his team-mates.
In the 20th minute, Marcelo Estigarribia went on a brilliant solo run and he unleashed a powerful shot that was pushed out for a corner-kick by Ecuador goalkeeper Maximo Banguera. Two minutes later Dario Veron tested Banguera with a shot from a Richard Ortiz cross, but his effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
One minute into the second half, Victor Ayala pumped a dangerous free-kick into the area and Christian Riveros connected to it with a precise volley at the back post to put the Paraguayans ahead.
Before the Ecuadorians had any time to react, in the 57th minute Paraguay went two-up, when Veron met a dipping corner-kick delivered by Ayala with a fine header.
Ayala, who was in charge of executing all of Paraguay's dead-ball situations, almost found the back of the net himself, but his dangerous free-kick was well-saved by Banguera.
A lapse of concentration from the Paraguay defense allowed Joao Rojas to score a consolation goal for the visitors, when he connected to a short cross from Valencia with a clever header in the 92nd minute.
In the fourth round of the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Paraguay travel to Santiago to do battle with Chile, while Ecuador take on Peru in Quito.
