Spain vs Paraguay - 2002 World Cup Group Match

Home: World Cup 2002: Korea-Japan Finals: 1st Round: Match Report

Friday June 7th, 2002

Siesta Before The Fiesta

Paraguay kicked-off from left to right and took a while to get into their stride, even though Spain seemed to be having a siesta at the back.

0:1
With ten minutes gone, José Luis Chilavert waved his players upfield and took the free-kick from deep in his own half. The long ball was headed out to Francisco Arce, on the right of the Spanish area. Iker Casillas could only parry the drive as far as his own defender, Carles Puyol, who knocked it back in..... for the third Own Goal of the tournament.

Two minutes later, Chilavert tipped a shot from Raul over the bar for a corner.

Even though Spain already had three points in the bag, they couldn't afford to lose this game..... but with six or seven Paraguayans around Chilavert's area, they found the going tough.

Chilavert's ability to read the game quickly thwarted Raul's attempt to get onto the end of an inviting through-ball from Tristin.

Spain continued to have more of the possession and create more attacking chances but in reality the under-achievers only created half-chances and Paraguay held onto their lead.

Paraguay also looked dangerous on the counter attack with Acuna, Cardozo and Santa Cruz the moving targets for Francisco Arce to aim for.

Half-time: Spain 0 - Paraguay 1

Spain started the second-half with a team change: Ivan Helguera and Morientes in for Luis Enrique and Diego Tristin.

1:1
Paraguay tried to cling onto their lead, closing out the renewed threats from Morientes and Ra�l, but couldn't prevent Fernando Morientes from rising high to head in from a corner - 53 mins.

2:1
Chilavert failed to get to a Francisco De Pedro cross from the left and substitute Morientes stumbled in his second goal, to give Spain the lead for the first time in the match - 69 mins.

With a little over ten minutes remaining, Chilavert ran up the pitch to take a free-kick for Paraguay and Casillas had to get down well to save it on the line.

3:1
Hierro made it two goals in two games from the spot after Ra�l was obstructed on a turn in the area.

Spain become the first team to definitely qualify for the Second Round - and will play someone from Germany's group.

Final Score:
Spain 3 - Paraguay 1

Man of the Match:
Francisco De Pedro - His corner and left wing cross provided the ammunition for Morientes to shoot Spain into a 2-1, second-half lead.

Yellow Cards:
Ruben Baraja (9 mins)
Francisco Arce (44 mins)
Diego Gavil�n (60 mins)
Roque Santa Cruz (80 mins)

The Teams

Spain:
1 Iker Casillas; 3 Juan Garcia, 6 Hierro, 20 Nadal, 5 Carles Puyol; 8 Ruben Baraja, 11 Francisco De Pedro, 21 Luis Enrique (4 Ivan Helguera - 46 mins), 17 Juan Carlos Valeron (19 Xavi - 85 mins); 7 Raul, 10 Diego Tristin (9 Fernando Morientes - 46 mins).

Paraguay:
1 José Luis Chilavert; 2 Francisco Arce, 5 Celso Ayala, 18 Julio Cesar C�ceres, 21 Denis Ramon Caniza (6 Estanislao Struway - 78 mins), 4 Carlos Gamarra; 10 Roberto Miguel Acun�a, 14 Diego Gavilon, 13 Carlos Humberto Paredes; 20 José Saturnino Cardozo (11 Jorge Campos - 63 mins), 9 Roque Santa Cruz.

Referee: Gamal Ghandour