BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa – At a World Cuplacking offense, Paraguay
showed some punch.
Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros each scored Sunday
as Paraguay took a big step toward the round of 16 with a 2-0 win over
Slovakia.
The win puts Paraguay atop Group F four points after two
matches. Slovakia has one point. Defending champion Italy and New
Zealand also are in the group, and play later Sunday — they each began
the day with one point.
"We played a good match and we are getting closer to
the round of 16," Vera said. "Our intention now is to be first in the
group."
Playing with a three-man front line spearheaded by
Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay controlled the tempo from the star.
Vera broke through for La Albirroja in the 27th when
forward Lucas Barrios slipped a pass into the box and Vera angled it
past Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha with a one-time shot.
Riveros added a goal in the 86th minute, a
left-footed blast from the edge of the penalty area.
"We did very well in the first half and we got a
goal, but that didn't mean we could relax in the second (half), and I
don't believe we did," Vera said.
Playing in its first major tournament since the
former Czechoslovakia divided in 1993, Slovakia looked outclassed and
unsure of itself facing a big, physical Paraguayan team that beat both
Argentina and Brazil.
"We made two mistakes and conceded two goals,"
Slovakia coach Vladimir Weiss said. "There was always a punishment for
our mistakes. Our opponent was a really high quality opponent and their
victory was deserved."
After Paraguay tied Italy 1-1 in its World Cup
opener, national coach Gerardo Martino opted to switch from a
4-4-2 formation to an attacking 4-3-3 against Slovakia, with Santa Cruz,
Nelson Valdez and Lucas Barrios up front.
The trio of powerful strikers proved a handful for
the Slovakia defense, outjumping, outmuscling and outrunning the
Slovaks.
Forced to focus on defending, Slovakia never mounted a
serious challenge to Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar. Slovakia's first
and only shot on goal came with Robert Vittek's drive in injury time.
"We played better today because we made some
corrections from the first game, and we got the early area, which we were looking to
get," Martino said.
"We barely gave Slovakia any chances to score early
in the match, and that made a difference. And yes, it is a good thing we
have gotten a lead against both of our opponents so far."
Santa Cruz, who plays for Mancherter City, was a welcome addition to
Paraguay's starting lineup. The striker has been hampered by a leg
injury, and only came on as a second-half substitute against Italy.
He made his presence felt almost immediately Sunday,
collecting a ball at the top of the box in the 3rd minute and hitting that forced a diving save from
Mucha.
He also came close to scoring in the 39th, when he
broke free for a low right-footed drive that Mucha kicked wide — and
Vera headed his cross just wide of the left post in the 72nd.
"This is a result that will put us in a good position, but the result of
the next game will decide," Martino said. "This is a very significant
win for us, of course, but the math shows that we are not through yet."