Paraguay beat a fighting Slovakia 2-0 in their second Group F match of 2010 FIFA World Cup played at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Sunday.
Paraguay's first goal came in the 27th minute of the match, when Enrique Vera pushed a pass from Lucas Barrios into the corner of Slovakia's net after beating goalkeeper Jan Mucha with a perfect finish with the outside of his right boot.
The second Paraguayan goal came in the 85th minute, when Cristian Riveros smashed a precise shot into the top corner of the Slovakian net. That opportunity came after a header by Paulo Da Silva off a free-kick was blocked by the Slovakian defense.
Earlier in the second half of the match, Paraguay's Enrique Vera came close to scoring his second goal of the match in the 72nd minute, but he headed a decent pass from Roque Santa Cruz just wide of the Slovakian net.
Though the Slovakians unleashed more attacking football after the Paraguayan first-half goal in a desperate effort to find an equalizer in the crucial match, they were unable to break the Paraguayan defense and test the rival goalkeeper despite their efforts.
Slovakia's only meaningful shot at the Paraguayan goal came in injury time, when when Robert Vittek unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the box in the 92nd minute. But that shot was saved by goalkeeper Justo Villar, who tipped the ball over his goalpost.
The first real chance of the match came in the 21st minute, but Jan Mucha collected a swerving shot from the edge of the box by Paraguay's Cristian Riveros. The Slovakian goalkeeper made another save in the 41st minute, keeping out a effort from Roque Santa Cruz.
The first booking of the match came in the 43rd minute of the match after a yellow card was shown to Slovakia's Jan Durica for a challenge on Cristian Riveros. Two minutes later, Paraguay's goalscorer Enrique Vera goes received a yellow after a tangle with Jan Durica.
Before Sunday's match, all the four teams in Group F were level on points after collecting one point each from their first matches of 2010 Football World Cup. Though both Paraguay and Slovakia drew their first matches, the South Americans were more confident in Sunday's match after their 1-1 draw against former champions Italy.
While Paraguay held 2006 World Cup winners Italy to a 1-1 draw draw in a thrilling encounter at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town on Monday, Slovakia drew 1-1with New Zealand at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg on Tuesday after allowing a last-minute goal.
With Sunday's victory, Paraguay now leads Group F with four points from two matches. The South Americans are now all but assured a place in the next round as they are to face New Zealand, the weakest team in the group, in their final Group F match.
But Slovakia will find advancing into the second round of the tournament more difficult as their next match is against 2006 champions Italy, who will now be desperate to collect six points from their remaining two games after their disappointing draw with Paraguay.
The Slovakians will now have to win against Italy for having any chance of advancing into the next round. Italy plays New Zealand in another Group F match in Nelspruit later on Sunday.
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