FRANCE 98 – Match Summary n°39
Outsiders Paraguay qualified for the second round of the World Cup on Wednesday when second-half strikes from Miguel Angel Benitez and Jose Cardozo fired them to a 3-1 victory over a second-string Nigeria side here. The win meant Paraguay finished second in Group D behind Nigeria and ahead of much-fancied European pair Spain and Bulgaria.
Paraguay coach Paulo Cesar Carpeggiani called it a sensational result. ” We’re delighted to be in the second round-it’s been just one big party for us here, “ he said. ” We went out there to win the match and achieved our aim, but it was hard work. We showed we have lots of dynamism and speed in attack and we were outstanding in defnce with our four forwards. Now we’re looking to the next round-it will be even tougher against France and we’ll need a repeat of this performance. “
Benitez smashed home a vicious 20-yarder after 59 minutes before Cardozo capitalised on some casual play by Nigerian goalkeeper Peter Rufai four minutes from time to seal a second round match against hosts France on Sunday in Lens. Paraguay’s Celso Ayala had earlier stunned the Africans with a goal in the very first minute only for Wilson Oruma to level the scores before half-time.
Nigeria coach Bora Milutinovic, who had said he wanted to avoid incurring any injuries or suspensions, made seven changes to the side which beat Bulgaria 1-0 in the previous match. Carpeggiani rejected suggestions that Paraguay had had it easy becuase of the weakended side put out by Nigeria.
” We had to make a few changes too, “ he said “it was still a very strong Nigeria side, as they showed especially in the first half. “ Nigeria coach Bora Milutinovic didn’t seem too bothered about losing a match that had little relevance with Nigeria having already guarnateed top spot.
” We had problems with the players on yellow cards and couldn’t risk them “ said the Serb. ” That meant we had to change our system. Then Daniel Amokachi got slightly hurt in the warm-up and Sunday Oliseh also got a slight knock during the match. We have to think about the match on Sunday against Denmark in the second round. We were excellent in the first half today but not so good in the second, but I’m just happy to have finished top of the Group of Death. “
Nwankwo Kanu, starting his first game, took over the captaincy from suspended skipper Uche Okechukwu, while Paraguay dropped midfielder Roberto Acuna and brought in Hugo Brizuela and Jose Cardozo up front. The South Americans, who needed a win to be sure of going through to the second round, failed to score in either of their matches against Bulgaria and Spain and had promised to attack from the start.
But even they could not have foreseen taking the lead after less than 60 seconds. Straight from the kick-off Paraguay won a free-kick down the right and when Francisco Arce floated the ball in River Plate defender Ayala rose unchallenged to head the ball past a disbelieving Peter Rufai in the Nigerian goal.
The Nigerian response was swift and deadly. Inter Milan midfielder Kanu slipped the overlapping Tijani Babangida in down the right flank and his cross found an unmarked Oruma and the 21-year-old who plays for French champions Lens banged in the equaliser in the 11th minute. Paraguay’s goalkeeping captain Jose Luis Chilavert then tipped a Sunday Oliseh piledriver and a Taribo West header round his post before blocking a Rasheed Yekini effort with his legs as Nigeria turned on the style.
Cardozo then had the ball in the net for Paraguay, only to be ruled offside, but Nigeria were dominant, so much so that an irate Chilavert roared out of his penalty area to berate a couple of team-mates he thought were slacking.
Oliseh failed to reappear after the interval for Nigeria and Paraguay took the initiative. Brizuela cracked in a low effort from the left which an out-of position Rufai just managed to divert round his near post after 51 minutes. Defender Carlos Gamarra was inches from converting after a scramble following a corner four minutes later.
Carpeggiani then gambled by bringing on a fourth forward, Juan Carlos Yegros and the chances continued to flow. Nigeria’s Yekini, who was a last minute stand-in for Daniel Amokachi, and then Miguel Benitez for Paraguay both wasted openings, though Benitez didn’t have long to wait for his moment of glory. A fine move down the right flank saw the ball filter across to the Espanyol forward, who unleashed a swerving 20-yarder with his right foot that dipped under Rufai’s crossbar and into the net to make it 2-1 after 58 minutes.
Ten minutes later Carpeggiani hauled off the goalscorer, throwing on Acuna as Paraguay sought to hold onto their victory. Cardozo should have made it 3-1 with 16 minutes remaining after Rufai lost the ball outside his area, but he failed miserably to hit an empty net from 22 yards.
With seven minutes left substitute Aristides Rojas twice saw close range efforts blocked by a ragged-looking Nigerian defence before Rufai again took an eternity to clear a pass back and when the ball reached Cardozo eight yards out he fired low across the goalkeeper to seal victory.