Falcao scores two, Colombia beats Paraguay 2-0

BARRANQUILLA, Colombia (AP) -Radamel Falcao scored two second-half goals as Colombia defeated Paraguay 2-0 on Friday in South American World Cup qualifying.

The Atletico de Madrid forward scored in the 52nd minute and added another in the 88th.

The victory improved Colombia to 16 points in eight matches - among the leaders in the qualifying group - and left Paraguay with only four points from five matches, the worst record among the nine teams.

Paraguay has qualified for the last four World Cups and reached the quarterfinals in 2010 at South Africa.

Falcao's two goals were very similar. Both times he cut in from the right side and struck a perfectly-timed left-footed shot into the net.

Colombia had at least six chances to put the match away before Falcao got his second goal.

"Paraguay was tough to break down,'' Falcao said. "We had to really fight to get the job done.''