Paraguay vs El Salvador
Nicolas Leóz
(1-0) 3-0 – Pablo Aguilar; Richard Ortiz (2)
The fifth game in the Nicolas Leóz, the fifth meeting with El Salvador which brought Paraguay’s fifth win against the Central American nation. The first half was a fairly balanced affair as the visitors kept possession well and threatened Diego Barreto’s goal including a fierce shot off the crossbar. However it was Paraguay that opened the scoring through Pelusso’s lucky charm Pablo Aguilar, the Tijuana defender now has four goals in three games all from set pieces. Victor Ayala’s freekick found the Luqueño’s head but he only managed to direct it towards the ground and a El Salvador defender, fortunately the rebound came straight back to him and he finished well.
Paraguay celebrate their first goal against El Salvador – Photo: AFP
Jonathan Fabbro, who has featured in all seven of Pelusso’s games in charge, was introduced at halftime and had an instant impact setting up two goals in just over 15 minutes as the albirroja took the game away from their opponents. Richard Ortiz profited from Fabbro’s clever passes and side-footed home with his left foot on both occassions. It was his first ever brace for the national side.
This was always going to be a gentle warm-up for the guarani before the serious stuff of March’s two away World Cup Qualifiers and they’ve passed the test comfortably recording their best win since beating Honduras by the same scoreline in September 2011.
Paraguay XI: Diego Barreto; Ivan Piris, Pablo Aguilar, Paulo da Silva, Miguel Samudio; Victor Ayala, Fidencio Oviedo, Julio Dos Santos; José Ariel Nuñez, Nelson Haedo, Edgar Benítez
Subs: Jonathan Fabbro, Víctor Cáceres, Marcos Cáceres, Luis Caballero, Richard Ortiz, Pedro Benítez
By Ralph Hannah
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