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World Cup qualifying: Paraguay stun Argentina [Mon Sep 5th, 2005]
Asuncion (Reuters) - Roque Santa Cruz scored an early goal to give Paraguay a 1-0 win over Argentina, their first ever in a World Cup qualifier, and move them close to a place at the 2006 World Cup finals.
Argentina, already sure of their place, were outplayed and reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when defender Gabriel Heinze was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Paraguay, who stayed fourth in the 10-nation South American qualifying group, have 25 points from 16 games and are five clear of Colombia and Chile, who have three matches each left, starting on Sunday.
Argentina lead the table with 31 points. The top four teams qualify directly for Germany and the fifth plays off against the Oceania region winners.
Paraguay made a flying start and Argentina goalkeeper Roberto Abbondanzieri was called into action after six minutes when he turned Nelson Haedo's shot around the post.
The pressure paid off in the 15th minute when Santa Cruz, who overcame a thigh injury to make the starting line-up, burst into the centre of the Argentina defence, blocked an attempted clearance by Heinze and slipped the ball past Abbondanzieri.
On a chilly afternoon in front of a rowdy crowd at the Defenders of the Chaco stadium, Argentina slowly came alive, with midfielder Juan Roman Riquelme twice trying his luck from long range but missing the target.
Cesar Delgado, Juan Pablo Sorin and Heinze were all close as Argentina enjoyed their best spell after the break, but the game turned back in Paraguay's favour after Heinze's red card.
Paraguay's best effort came with nine minutes left when Julio dos Santos led a counter-attack and slipped the ball to Haedo, whose shot struck the post.
Argentina brought on 18-year-old striker Lionel Messi -- sent off after less than two minutes of his international debut against Hungary last month -- in the 81st minute but he did not have a chance to make an impact.
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