Paraguay beats Chile 3-0 in WC qualifier

Santiago, Chile:

Defender Paulo Da Silva netted two goals as Paraguay upset Chile 3-0 on Wednesday to lead the South American qualifying series for the 2010 World Cup.

Striker Salvador Cabanas, who plays for America of Mexico, gave Paraguay the lead at minute 23rd with a short range right footed shot picking a ball after defender Cristian Alvarez failed to clear a cross from the left.

Da Silva, Mexican club Toluca, made it 2-0 in first half extra time when he headed in a corner kick from the right by Cabanas.

He repeated the feat in the 57th minute by heading home another Cabanas corner from the same side.

An attacking Chile dominated most of the game, but the Paraguayan goals silenced the home crowd of more than 60,000.

The win left Paraguay as leader of the 10-team qualifying series with 10 points in four matches followed by Brazil and Colombia with eight each.

Chile has four points.

Lineups:

Chile: Claudio Bravo. Cristian Alvarez, Waldo Ponce, Miguel Riffo, Manuel Iturra (Carlos Villanueva-46), Claudio Maldonado, Hugo Droguett, Matias Fernandez, Humberto Suazo, Marcelo Salas, Eduardo Rubio (Luis Jimenez-46).

Paraguay: Justo Villar, Carlos Bonet, Julio Cesar Caceres, Paulo da Silva, Claudio Morel Rodriguez, Enrique Vera, Victor Caceres, Cristian Riveros (Edgar Barreto-81), Jonathan Santana, Salvador Cabanas (Roque Santa Cruz-63), Nelson Haedo Valdez (Jorge Achucarro-66).