Paraguay 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago
2006 World Cup Finals, Group B
Tuesday 20 June 2006
Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiseslautern
Paraguay’s disappointing World Cup campaign finished on a high note as they beat Leo Beenhakker's spirited Trinidad and Tobago side 2-0 in Kaiserslautern.
The Soca Warriors leave for the Carribean without having managed to score a goal, though the gutsy attitude that secured a point against Sweden was again on show in the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.
Trinidad started the game in bright fashion. In the opening quarter, Dwight Yorke found Cornell Glen, whose header was turned away smartly by Aldo Bobadilla, and Aurtis Whitley, who fired well wide.
Another Trinidad chance came when a Yorke free-kick was headed clear by Carlos Paredes, just before Stern John could pounce to steer the ball past Bobadilla.
Much of this match was, in fact, dominated by a Trinidad side who fell behind to the most unfortunate of opening goals - Brett Sancho heading past Kelvin Jack after 25 minutes.
The goal led to a sustained period of Paraguayan pressure and in one blistering attack, Roque Santa Cruz powered his way down the left flank, cut inside and fired a low drive which flashed across the face of the goal.
Trinidad had their moments but the best chances were falling for the South Americans. Only a wonderful flying save from Jack denied Acuna whilst Paredes saw his effort cleared off the line by Densill Theobald.
Paraguay then weathered a late Trinidad comeback before securing their only points of the tournament with a coolly-taken 86th-minute strike from Nelson Cuevas.
Paraguay 2-0 Trinidad & Tobago, FIFA World Cup, 20 June 2005
Paraguay: Bobadilla, Nunez, Gamarra, Caceres (Manzur, 78), Caniza (Da Silva, 88), Barreto, Acuna, Paredes, Dos Santos, Santa Cruz, Valdez (Cuevas, 66).
Subs not used: Bonet, Cabanas, Gavilan, Gomez, Lopez, Montiel, Riveros, Toledo, Villar.
Goals: Sancho 25 og, Cuevas 86
Trinidad and Tobago: Jack, Avery John (Jones, 31), Sancho, Lawrence, Birchall, Whitley (Latapy, 66), Edwards, Theobald, Glen (Wise, 41), Stern John, Yorke.
Subs not used: Andrews, Charles, Cox, Gray, Hislop, Ince, Samuel, Scotland, Wolfe.
Referee: Roberto Rosetti (Ita)
Asstistants: Cristiano Copelli (Ita), Alessandro Stagnoli (Ita)
Fourth Official: Frank De Bleeckere (Bel)
Fifth Official: Peter Hermans (Bel)
Attendance: 46,000