BLOEMFONTEIN // Enrique Vera and Cristian Riveros scored a goal each to give Paraguay a 2-0 win over Slovakia in Group F of the World Cup. Paraguay took the lead in the 27th minute when forward Lucas Barrios slipped a pass into the box that Vera angled past Slovakia goalkeeper Jan Mucha with a first-time shot and Riveros doubled the lead in the 86th with a left-footed drive from 12 metres. "It was lucky that I could score," said Vera, who was named man of the match. "The first goal came at the best moment in the first half and then we wanted to keep possession of the ball and the second goal made us calm."
Playing with a three-man front line spearheaded by recalled striker Roque Santa Cruz, Paraguay controlled possession and the flow of play from the start at Free State Stadium and created a handful of early chances. Slovakia, who are playing in their first major tournament since the former Czechoslovakia divided in 1993, looked outclassed and unsure of itself in the face of a physical Paraguayan side who beat both Argentina and Brazil in World Cup qualifying.
After Paraguay drew 1-1 with defending champions Italy in their World Cup opener, Paraguay 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 Barrios up front. The trio of big, strong strikers proved a handful for the Slovakia defence, outjumping, outmuscling and outrunning the Slovaks. Forced to focus on defending, Slovakia never mounted a serious challenge to Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar's goal. Slovakia's only shot on goal came from Robert Vittek's drive in injury time.
Santa Cruz was a welcome addition to Paraguay's starting lineup. The Manchester City striker has been hampered by a leg injury, and only came on as a second-half substitute against Italy. But Santa Cruz made his presence felt almost immediately, collecting a ball at the top of the box in the third minute and hitting a right-footed shot that forced a diving save from Mucha. He also went close in the 39th, when he broke free for a low right-footed drive that Mucha kicked wide, and set up Vera with a cross in the 72nd that Vera headed just wide of the left post. The win puts Paraguay at the top of the group with four points from two matches. Slovakia have one point. * AP
