Draw good as win — Paraguay advances

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This article was published 25/06/2010 (5946 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

POLOKWANE, South Africa — Paraguay moved into the round of 16 at the World Cup for the fourth time in its history Thursday after being held to an uneventful 0-0 draw by New Zealand.

Neither team created many scoring chances despite displaying more urgency after the break following a turgid first half at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Paraguay finished with five points in Group F, two more than New Zealand, which was eliminated after Slovakia beat Italy 3-2 in the other group game to advance.

Paraguay substitute Edgar Benitez sent a low shot that was saved by goalkeeper Mark Paston in the 76th minute in the best chance of the match.

Teammate Cristian Riveros headed straight at Paston from a short corner in the 64th in the only other chance of note.

Playing in only its second World Cup, having lost all three matches in 1982, New Zealand came into the match after 1-1 draws with Slovakia and then-defending champion Italy, a team ranked 73 places above the Kiwis.

New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert, who played in that 1982 tournament, made no changes from Sunday’s match against Italy in Nelspruit.

Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made three changes to the team that beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein. Forward Oscar Cardozo came in for Lucas Barrios, and defenders Denis Caniza and Julio Cesar Caceres replaced Carlos Bonet and Anatolin Alcaraz.

Both teams started cautiously and had trouble finding their targets with long-range passes on the fast and bouncy surface.

New Zealand’s 3-4-3 formation gave the Kiwis a player advantage in midfield with Paraguay lining up in a fluid 4-3-3. But the willingness of Nelson Valdez, Enrique Vera, Claudio Morel and Caniza to alternate in staying close to the sidelines opened up enough room in the middle for the South Americans’ slick interchange passing.

— The Associated Press

Paraguay 0 0 — 0

New Zealand 0 0 — 0

First half

No Scoring.

Second half

No Scoring.

Shots — Paraguay: 17; New Zealand: 4.

Shots on goal — Paraguay: 5; New Zealand: 0.

Fouls Committed — Paraguay: Referee — Yuichi Nishimura, Japan.

Attendance — 34,850.