Uruguay down Paraguay to open South American qualifiers

Uruguay down Paraguay to open South American qualifiers Montevideo  - Uruguay beat the mighty Paraguay by 2-0 Saturday, to add excitement to the South American qualifiers towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Paraguay - who lost in Montevideo in a game where they could not impose their trademark play - remain comfortable atop the qualifiers table. Even if second-placed Brazil beat Ecuador Sunday, Paraguay would retain a three-point lead with 23 points from 11 games.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a right-foot shot following a good back pass from Luis Suarez. Twelve minutes into the second half, a header to the far post from Uruguay captain Diego Lugano gave the home side their second goal for the final 2-0 score at the Centenario stadium.

With Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo in the stands, Paraguay ended the game with 10 men after Julio Cesar Caceres withdrew from the pitch injured with no more substitutions available.

"It was important to win, and we fortunately got three points," Forlan said immediately after the game.

The win leaves Uruguay - the winner of two editions of the World Cup, though the most recent 1950 - in a position to keep dreaming about returning to the crucial event. They now have 16 points from 11 games and are set to at least retain fifth place in the table whatever happens Sunday.

In South America's World Cup qualifiers, each of the 10 sides plays each of the other nine teams at home and away.

The top four win a place in the World Cup. The fifth-placed team has a chance to advance through a play-off against a representative of the North, Central American and Caribbean region.

Later Saturday, Argentina were hosting Venezuela in Diego Maradona's official debut as Argentine national coach, while Colombia were hosting the lowly Bolivia.

On Sunday, Brazil - without Kaka - were playing Ecuador in Quito, at an altitude of 2,800 metres, while troubled Peru were hosting Chile.

Next week, the 12th round of the qualifiers is set to start Tuesday in Puerto Ordaz, with Venezuela-Colombia. On Wednesday, the round will end with the games Chile-Uruguay, Brazil-Peru, Bolivia- Argentina and Ecuador-Paraguay. (dpa)

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