Substitute Anibal Vega pulled Paraguay out of a hole with two second-half goals in a 4-2 win over New Zealand in the second Group B tie of the day at the DY Patil stadium here on Monday. The win catapulted the South American nation to the top of the group.
Paraguay’s delight at a free-kick goal by Alan Rodriguez turned into dismay following two own-goals by captain Alexis Duarte, the defender turning the ball into his own net in a haste to clear.
Blas Armoa scored late in the second half to seal back-to-back victories for the South Americans.
Earlier Mali, playing with poise and precision befitting its status as one of the favourites, took a giant step towards qualification with a 3-0 demolition job of Turkey.
The African champion and last year’s finalist first broke down the rival resistance in the first half, and then added two more in the second.
Mali switched from the frenetic attacking against Paraguay, for which it paid the price, to controlled defending against Turkey as it kept men behind the ball at all times.
Overlapping run
Djemoussa Traore slipped through unmarked on an overlapping run to slot in the first goal. Lassana Ndiaye then slammed in a rebound for the second while Fonate Konate looped a left-footer into the roof for the third.
Going into the game with three players carrying yellow cards, the situation demanded that Mali blend caution with aggression.
Turkey was at the receiving end of relentless assaults by yellow shirts in the first half as it was unable to stem the flood of raids by the Africans down the middle.
Its deep defence kept its nerve and blocked repeated attempts by the strikers and cleared balls curling in off corner kicks till the 38th minute strike past goalkeeper Ozer.
Mali then turned it up further in the second half.
Mali will play New Zealand in the third tie, while Turkey, still in pursuit of a win, faces Paraguay.
The results:
Mali 3 (Djemoussa Traore 38, Lamasa Ndiaye 68, Fode Konate 86) bt Turkey 0.
Paraguay 4 (Alan Rodriguez 2, Anibal Vega 75, 78, Blas Armoa 90) bt New Zealand 2 (Alexis Duarte-ogs 20, 34).
