Draw, Win, Win - Paraguay, Brazil, Chile update

Here's a quick round up of the other three sides from CONMEBOL and their first World Cup games....

Italy 1-1 Paraguay

Paraguay were held to a 1-1 draw by defending champions Italy after shocking the Azzuri when an Antolin Alcaraz header put Paraguay into a lead they took into half time. An old Italy side were slow out of the blocks and then suffered a further setback when they lost keeper Gigi Buffon to injury at half time. The Champions though were gifted an equalizer after Paraguay goalkeeper Villar missed a corner form Pepe and Daniele de Rossi headed home the leveller. With the other game in the group between New Zealand and Slovakia finishing with the same scoreline it's all to play for in Group F

Brazil 2-1 DPR Korea

The Seleção finally overcame a resiliant DPR Korea in Johannesburg after a goalless first half left Dunga scratching his head wondering why his team didn't have the game in the bag already after dominating possession. The Seleção finally broke the deadlock ten minutes after the break after a wonder goal from Maicon, who scored from an impossible angle and bending the much maligned Jabulani ball past a disbelieving Myong-Guk Ri in the DPR Korea goal. With 18 minutes left Elano doubled the lead, converting a super ball from Robinho to slot home. Credit to DPR Korea who didn't give up and they grabbed a consolation from Yun-Nam Ji in the last minute to put a smile on the face of the Dear Leader. The other game in the group finished goalless to put the Seleção in the box seat for qualifying.

Honduras 0-1 Chile

Chile earned their first World Cup Finals victory after success over Honduras at the Mbombela Stadium. Chile dominated the game against their CONCACAF opponents, who themselves were at the finals for the first time since 1982. It took one goal to seperate the teams and that came eleven minutes before the break when Jean Beausejour's deflected shot beat Valladares in the Honduras goal. It was a deserved lead for Chile who easily saw the game out and coupled with Spain's capitulation means victory over the Swiss in their next game would be enough to see them into the Round of 16.