ASUNCION, Paraguay - Christian Riveros and Nelson Haedo Valdez scored in the first half as Paraguay dispatched Venezuela 2-0 to extend its lead in South American qualifying for the World Cup on Tuesday.

Paraguay has 17 points, followed by Brazil and Argentina with 12 each and Uruguay on 11. Venezuela, loser of a third consecutive qualifier, was eighth in the 10-team standings with seven.

Riveros knocked a centre pass into the lower right corner of the net, beyond the reach of Venezuela goalkeeper Renny Vega in the 28th minute.

Off a pass from Roque Santa Cruz, Valdez split Venezuela's porous defence to score into an open net a minute before halftime.

Santa Cruz, back after an ankle injury made him unavailable for last Saturday's 1-1 draw with Argentina, directed Paraguay's powerful offence, while Venezuela - faced with a tough defence - failed to create offensive opportunities at Defensores del Chaco Stadium in the Paraguayan capital.

Venezuela has yet to score in five World Cup qualifiers - all losses - in Asuncion.

Paraguay next plays Colombia on Oct. 11. Venezuela hosts Brazil the same day.

On Wednesday, its Chile versus Colombia, Uruguay versus Ecuador, Brazil versus Bolivia and Peru versus Argentina.

Paraguay striker Roque Santa Cruz is still unsure about his chances of playing in the World Cup qualifying clash with Argentina on Saturday.

The Blackburn star was taken off early in last weekend's Premier League defeat to West Ham with an Achilles problem and although the injury is responding well to treatment, he is still doubtful.

'I still don't know whether I can play against Argentina but the injury is coming on okay,' said Santa Cruz.

'I will keep on running as I did today and hopefully on Friday I can train normally and play football with my team-mates.

'I am not fully fit yet but the pain is less each day. We'll see how it reacts. If I'm not fine, I'll keep training to play against Venezuela (three days later).'

Santa Cruz sees no reason to panic should he not be available, however.

'We have a lot of first-class players who are waiting for their chance,' he added. 'We are not dead without me or Salvador Cabanas (who is also injured).

'Other players have the confidence of the coach too.'

Arsenal are expected to table a £10 million bid for Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz if Emmanuel Adebayor gets his way and is allowed to join AC Milan.

Milan have admitted to making an official approach to Arsenal for Adebayor and reports in Italy say the 24-year-old Togo international has already agreed personal terms with the Italian giants.

Adebayor is said to have told his agent, Stephane Courbis, that he wants to swap the Emirates stadium for the San Siro, where he would earn around £3m per season.

"We wrote to Arsenal to ask about the availability of Emmanuel Adebayor, but we didn't get a reply," Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani told Milan channel, the club's in-house television station.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is refusing to sell Adebayor and has slapped a £30m price tag on the player's head - a fee Milan are unlikely to match - but the African's will to leave could force a compromise.

Adebayor's Arsenal contract runs out in 2010, but Courbis will try and persuade the club to release the powerful forward who scored 24 goals in the Premier League last season.

Arsenal have already lost midfielder Mathieu Flamini to Milan and the relationship between the two clubs appears to be strained. Milan have also expressed an interest in Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o.

Santa Cruz shone for Blackburn during his debut season in the Premier League after moving to Ewood Park from Bayern Munich.

The Paraguayan, who cost just £3.5m, scored 23 goals for Rovers last season.

Santa Cruz's goalscoring form has also caught the eye of Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who requires a striker but has been put off by the £35m price tag Tottenham have placed on Dimitar Berbatov.

Arsenal will feel confident they can lure Santa Cruz to London after Wenger pipped United to £5m Cardiff winger Aaron Ramsey. In a further boost, Eduardo, Arsenal's Croatian striker who broke his leg during a Premier League match against Birmingham back in February, could be involved in pre-season training.

Wenger, meanwhile, has dismissed speculation linking Hamburg defender Vincent Kompany with a move to the Emirates. The Frenchman has been tracking the Belgium international's progress for some time, but does not want to add any more recruits to his backline this summer.

"I have known Kompany for a long time, since he was 16," Wenger said. "I keep following him but the story that we want him for next season is wrong.

"I know him to be very, very good but I have decided that defenders are no longer needed for next season. Therefore, he will not come."

News article by the administration of the web page of ROQUE WEB SANTA CRUZ to its FATHER LIC. APRONIANO SANTA CRUZ MARTINEZ

How it was that you have been decided to go to Chile to see the match of Paraguay in Santiago, because in principle was not in your plans according to since you had declared?

It really was not in my plans because the night before to this encounter the delivery of titles to the withdrawn ones of the Autonoma University of Asunción was made and my son Diego comprised of them in the race of Social Sciences where he culminated its studies like Lawyer.

It was a very important event for the family and we have been to accompany it in this act. On the following day or of the party, in the morning a travel agency friend offered places to us in an extra flight that finally we accepted and we were decided to leave with my wife and my son Julio to be present at the game and also to accompany to Roque moments in Santiago because of it continued trip to England there or again.

It surprised to you that Roque was not in the initial equipment?

Yes, that's it surprised to me. I thought that he was for starting from a beginning.

Roque already knew that it did not go from a beginning?

It said to me that no. That the trainer Gerardo Martino had confirmed the equipment at last moment of beginning of the party.

That Roque said? It was bothered against the trainer by this assumed attitude with him?

It did not say anything. But I noticed to him very distant. Roque normally does not think on important things in hot or under pressure; or makes decisions to the light one.

And you who you think on this attitude of the trainer?

Many things. First like always, I ask myself: Why? from one it begins there to reflect and to remove answers. As norm I always must respect the professional work of a person soon to think consequently. In this opportunity it deserves, for example the study of a simple thing: Was right or correct the attitude assumed by the trainer with a professional like Roque Santa Cruz?

You think that the trainer to lost confidence in Roque when not putting it in the equipment?

It is a question also that must ask the trainer Gerardo Martino. Surely it will say that no, but nevertheless Roque was not in its equipment in Chile, had it in the bank. Paraguay in this opportunity like at all the matches of these eliminatory ones must present/display the best thing than it has in each commitment and if it did not put it in Chile is because it considered it that it was not necessary. For me Roque it continues being an exceptional player, with a referring shining race and more important of Paraguay player in the outside.

As you saw the party of Paraguay against Chile?

I saw a first time in which Paraguay played, in principle, to destroy any attempt of planned game of Chile, being run all the balls within the field, with much sacrifice and gives of the players. And from recovering some balls there to try to advance in attack.

Paraguay did not have this time capacity to mount an attack with organized plays. At least I not saw it. The predominance of the ball by Chile was well-known. Chile constructed and Paraguay destroyed. In this first time although it arrived at 2 goals was not it with threaded plays affluent.

First of a serve of the goalkepper, the very surely and kind Villar, soon the distracted defense of Chile in letting bounce the ball for the jump of Haedo that combed the ball for ahead in where opportune for Cabañas with a short resentment gained the position behind the defense of Chile giving samples to have the intelligent spark of the great players to the power to intuit where it would go to fall that ball and with smooth definition it made the goal before the exit by stop of the Chilean goalkepper that dismiss the possibility of a high ball.

The second, the ball stopped originating from a corner shot, was the first jump impressive of Da Silva. The second time was equal, the Chileans in attack with the dominion of the ball and the Paraguayans defending itself with sporadic attacks.

The third goal, of stopped ball. Corner of Paraguay, and the second jump and impressiveof Da Silva that culminated therefore one night shining. Soon, with the entrance of Roque, the equipment gained sobriety and order, forced its companions to lower the ball and to play it order, to touch it and to make it circulate with the objective to handle the rest of which it was of the match and to discourage therefore the local initiative. This was for me this match.

You think that the figure of Roque is more than the Tata Martino?

I do not know it. Is not interesting to know that to me.

Do you enjoy this victory Paraguay in Chile?

Like all Paraguayan with a indescriptible joy.

Some final message for the Paraguayans?

My warm greetings to all, in special to the compatriots who live in the outside and which they follow albirroja from the place where find. We go calm and safe, I believe that we have the hope to be in the world-wide of football one more time in South Africa 2.010

Regards!