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High-flying host Argentina thrashes Paraguay 5-0, makes youth final
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) -- Two goals by ace youngster Javier Saviola helped Argentina overpower Paraguay 5-0 on Wednesday and advance the side to the final of the under-20 World Youth Championship to play Ghana. Argentina, which has won the championship three times, tore Paraguay apart from the starting whistle. Saviola fired home the first in the 18th minute when at the edge of the area he blocked a Paraguayan clearance and found himself with a chance to shoot. The 19-year-old got the second six minutes later when winger Maxmiliano Rodriguez foiled a Paraguayan offside trap and broke free down the right. Racing into the area he passed the ball to Saviola who despite being tackled to the ground by two defenders managed to put the ball past goalkeeper Diego Barreto. Savola is the tournament's leading scorer with 10 to his name. Before some 40,000 spectators at the Jose Amalfitani stadium, Paraguay played defensively from the start and continued to do so even when it was two down, packing its defense and midfield and leaving only Fredy Bareiro up front. Its only shot at goal in the first half came in a curling 20-meter (yard) free kick by Bareiro that grazed the crossbar in the 33rd minute. Its second attempt came four minutes before the final whistle, defender Jose Devaca had a surprise long-range drive clip the crossbar. Argentina, meanwhile, took complete command of the match with Rodriguez, Leandro Romagnoli, Andres D'Alessandro creating havoc up front for the Paraguayan defense. The third goal came in the 41st minute when D'Alessandro chipped the ball over the heads of a line of Paraguayan defenders at the edge of the box to Romagnoli who lobbed it cheekily over Barreto's head for goal against the futile cries of 'offside' by the Paraguayans. Paraguay's fate looked sealed when seconds before halftime the side was left with 10 men as Felipe Gimenez was sent off for a foul on Leonardo Ponzio. Argentina came out after the break looking for a quick fourth and got it within six minutes. After close shots by Rodriguez and Romagnoli that Bareto did well to block, D'Alessandro powered home a low shot from just outside the area that left the Paraguayan goalie stretching in vain. Romagnoli's substitute Esteban Herrera made it 5-0 in the 70th minute, seven minutes after coming on, when in a goalmouth melee he slotted the ball past a confused Barreto. Argentina, which has won the tournament three times, made it this far by beating Egypt 7-1, Finland 2-0, Jamaica 5-1, China 2-1 and France 3-1. The side will however be without key defender Fabricio Coloccini for Sunday's final because of yellow cards. The biennial tournament which began June 17 with 24 national teams, is billed as a window to future soccer talents. Lineups: ARGENTINA: Wilfredo Caballero, Nicolas Burdisso, Julio Arca, Nicolas Medina, Fabricio Coloccini, Diego Colotto, Leonardo Ponzio, Maximiliano Rodriguez, Leandro Romagnoli ( Esteban Herrera, 63rd), Andres D'Alessandro (Mauro Cetto, 73rd) Javier Saviola (Mauro Rosales, 59th). PARAGUAY: Diego Barreto, Jose Devaca, Pedro Benitez (Anival Sosa, 78th), Walter Fretes, Gabriel Estigarribia, Diego del Puerto, Osvaldo Diaz (David Villalba, 59th), Santiago Salcedo, Celso Esquivel, Felipe Gimenez and Fredy Bareiro (Christian Fatecha, 81st). Referee: Wilson Souza (Brazil).
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