Slovakia 0-2 Paraguay

Paraguay have moved top of Group F and appear well on course for World Cup progression after beating Slovakia 2-0.

The opening half was controlled impressively by the Albirroja, though only Enrique Vera could find the net. Half-time seemed to half the South Americans’ momentum, but Slovakia barely stretched their opponents. Cristian Riveros secured the victory with five minutes remaining.

Having done well to pick up a point against Italy in their opening game, Paraguay showed plenty of early intent. In the opening couple of minutes the South Americans twice threatened, with a ball whizzed across goal by Lucas Barrios and then a deflected Roque Santa Cruz shot that Jan Mucha had to tip away from his top corner.

Slovakia were showing very little attacking intent, but their defence was standing pretty firm, allowing the Paraguayans only fleeting glimpses of goal. Paulo da Silva nearly got his head decisively to a wicked free kick before Martin Skrtel sacrificed possession in a bad area, beginning a sequence of events that ended with Riveros driving straight at Mucha.

Barrios and Nelson Valdez both shot off-target as la Albirroja increased their pressure.

Before the half-hour mark, the South Americans would deservedly grab the lead. Barrios linked superbly with his team-mates at times, but his deft pass to Vera was met by an equally astute finish from the midfielder, who timed his run superbly before bending the ball round Mucha with the outside of his boot under intense pressure.

After breaking the deadlock, the Paraguayan defence started having to work. Marek Hamsik nearly found Stanislav Sestak through on goal, and moments before Robert Vittek had just failed to connect with an early centre.

Santa Cruz replied at the other end of the field, though his chance largely came about due to sloppy Slovak play. A quick free kick yards outside of their own penalty box was taken short to Zdeno Strba, who quickly coughed up possession to Vera. The midfielder released the Manchester City player, who failed to beat Mucha.

There was a shift of emphasis on the Slovakian game after the interval. With only Italy left to play in this section, three points were vital in this game and their more attacking second half stance reflected this. Coach Vladimir Weiss was still somewhat loathe to commit his side in a gung-ho fashion, so the early stage of the second period were largely played in the centre of the field.

Indeed, neither goalkeeper was remotely threatened in the opening 15 minutes of the second period as the Europeans were pressing their opponents far more effectively, causing disruption in the centre of the park.

The first real chance of a stodgy second half didn’t arrive until the 71st minute. A neat one-touch interchange down the Paraguayan left resulted in Santa Cruz galloping down the left touchline, from where he centred to Vera. Seeking his second goal, the midfielder headed downwards just painfully past the left hand post of Mucha’s goal.

Substitute Aureliano Torres chanced his arm from distance, but his shot rose a foot too high as the game started to petered out in a tame fashion.

With five minutes remaining, Paraguay locked down the three points. A free kick to the back post left the Slovakia defence scrambling, and when the ball broke to Riveros at the edge of the box, he drove firmly home.

In stoppage time, Justo Villar turned over a strong Vittek drive, leaving the Repre needing an unlikely victory over Italy in their final group game in order to have any hope of progression.