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Spain in pain
Scoreless draw with Paraguay leaves Spaniards in bad position
Posted: Friday June 19, 1998 05:56 PM
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Chilavert kept Spain at bay, securing his second straight shutout (AP) |
ST. ETIENNE, France (AP) --
Spain stood on
the brink of first round elimination from the World Cup Friday after it was
held to a 0-0 tie by Paraguay.
The Spaniards, strongly favored to reach the quarterfinal at least,
forced Paraguay's star goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert to make several
top-class saves. But Juan Pizzo, Luis Enrique and Raul Gonzalez
couldn't find the target and Javier Clemente's team is in serious danger of
going out in the opening round. Having already lost 3-2 to Nigeria, the
Spaniards have only one point but at least moved up to third above Bulgaria on
goals scored. The result means that the Nigerians, who downed
Bulgaria 1-0 at Parc des Princes earlier Friday, clinch first place in
Group D while the Paraguayans, who haven't seen a goal scored in two 0-0
ties, are best placed to join them in round two. Paraguay has two
points and Bulgaria and Spain have one each while the Nigerians have
already qualified for the second round after two victories. In the
final group games next Wednesday, Spain meets Bulgaria at Lens and Paraguay
faces Nigeria at Toulouse. Clemente made five changes after the 3-2
loss to Nigeria when his team twice lost the lead. But Paraguay,
which was held to a 0-0 tie by Bulgaria, created the first danger in the
15th minute when a low, 25-yard free kick by Miguel Angel Benitez got
through the defensive wall. The shot was confidently held by
goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta who was fortunate to stay on the team after
his blunder gifted Nigeria it second goal. A chance fell to Spanish
striker Juan Pizzi in the 21st minute when the Paraguayan defense failed to
clear a cross. The striker headed powerfully goalwards from 12 yards by
goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert punched the ball acrobatically behind for a
corner. After Zubizarreta had punched away a powerfully-struck
25-yard shot from Benitez, Paraguay won a free kick 30 yards out and
goalkeeper Chilavert, who has scored three times for his country, moved up
to take a shot at goal. His well-hit free kick hit the defensive
wall and deflected to Francisco Arce whose 12-yard shot was deflected for a
corner. Aristides Rojas then got through on goal but was foiled by a
well-timed tackle by Carlos Aguilera as the forward was about to shoot from
10 yards. In the final minute of the first half, Spanish striker
Raul wriggled clear of the defense and shot from eight meters only for
Chilavert to dive to his right to got his hand to the ball. Pizzi
ran in to try and force the ball home but Celso Ayala got in a tackle to
sweep the ball away. Early in the second half, Zubiarreta saved a
low shot from the ever dangerous Benitez and then dived full stretch to his
left to keep out a curling shot from the same player in the 63rd minute.
At the other end, Chilavert pushed a shot from Luis Enrique over the
bar and the Spanish midfielder came up with a close range header which the
Paraguayan goalkeeper again tipped over the top. Coach Clemente made
three changes in the second half including replacing Raul with Atletico
Madrid's Kiko Narvaez. Lineups: Spain: Andoni
Zubizarreta; Rafael Alkorta, Abelardo Fernandez (Alberto Celades, 56th),
Sergi Barjuan, Carlos Aguilera; Raul Gonzalez (Kiko Narvaez 66th), Fernando
Hierro Guillermo Amor, Luis Enrique Martinez, Joseba Exteberria; Juan Pizzi
(Francisco Morientes, 53rd). Paraguay: Jose Luis Chilavert;
Francisco Arce, Carlos Gamarra, Celso Ayala, Pedro Sarabia; Denis Caniza,
Roberto Acuna (Julio Cesar Yegros, 74th), Miguel Angel Benitez, Julio Cesar
Enciso; Aristides Rojas (Cesar Ramirez, 84th), Jorge Campos (Carlos
Paredes, 46th). Referee: Ian McLeod, South
Africa.
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