Full-time - 90'
Slovakia
0 - 2
Paraguay
Group F, 11:30 GMT, June 20, 2010

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, South Africa

A first-half strike from winger Enrique Vera and a late strike from Cristian Riveros saw Paraguay claim a deserved 2-0 victory over Slovakia.


MATCH SUMMARY

Man of the Match: Lucas Barrios - He has scored three goals and delivered two assists in his first five games for Paraguay and his throughball found Enrique Vera in the right place to net the opener. A talented and quick thinking performer whose stock is on the rise.

Slovakia verdict: Set up to defend in the first-half, and nothing really changed after they went a goal down. A lack of ambition, probably coupled with a desire not to be embarrassed by the bigger teams in the competition, has hindered their abilty to pull off a shock and only Vladimir Weiss shone. Quite disappointing.

Paraguay verdict: Still missing something from the attacking performances we saw in qualifying, Paraguay were solid and their front three of Santa Cruz, Barrios and Valdez were lively. Right winger Vera looked to get forward a lot and was rewarded with a goal, while Cristian Riveros rounded things off in style.

Could do better: Marek Hamsik - For someone who has seen so much hype around his performances for Napoli (he scored 12 goals for them last season), Hamsik has not stamped his mark on the tournament and could not get hold of the ball. Closed down too easily, he did not have the space to find his team-mates and was hardly in the game.

Stat attack: Before the game, seven of Paraguay's last nine wins had been by a 1-0 scoreline, so they were glad of Riveros' clincher.

It was just the result Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino was looking for after the draw with reigning world champions Italy in their opening game and puts the team in sight of the second round.

Vera made the breakthrough in the 27th minute after a spell of sustained pressure at the Free State Stadium and, while Paraguay then squandered a number of good chances to extend their advantage, Riveros sealed the win with five minutes to go.

It is Slovakia's first appearance in the finals and they are heading for an early exit. The team's only effort of note came in stoppage time when substitute Filip Holosko's shot was turned over the bar by goalkeeper Justo Villar.

Paraguay dictated the pace from the start and Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz, who returned after a minor injury, came close to scoring twice. He almost gave his side the lead in the third minute, his effort turned away at the post by Everton-bound goalkeeper Jan Mucha.

Then Nelson Valdez turned quickly but saw his effort go wide before play switched back down the other end. Marek Hamsik played the ball out to Jan Durica but he sent his shot over the bar.

Paraguay were having the majority of possession and Paulo Da Silva was only inches away from making contact at the back post following a free-kick by Claudio Morel.

Cristian Riveros then drilled a shot from the edge of the area but Mucha was equal to it before Lucas Barrios was off target from an acute angle. Slovakia again found themselves on the back foot in the 24th minute but Valdez fired wide.

Paraguay's pressure paid on the 27th minute when they made the breakthrough. Barrios released Vera and he got the better of Durica to hook the ball home.

Slovakia hit back and Kornel Salata headed over the bar from inside the area in the 37th minute. It proved brief respite, however, with Santa Cruz almost adding a second a minute later only for Mucha to boot the ball clear.

Slovakia tried to step up the tempo at the start of the second half but Paraguay looked well in control.

Vera should have scored his second goal of the game in the 72nd minute following a swift counter attack. However, he steered a header wide in front of the posts following a cross and some good skill from Santa Cruz, who was unhappy at some of his treatment from Liverpool's Martin Skrtel.

Substitute Aureliano Torres then saw his effort take a deflection off a Slovakia defender and finish high over the bar.

Paraguay extended their advantage in the 85th minute when Da Silva played the ball into Riveros and he curled a shot into the corner.