Argentina 5 - Paraguay 2

Hosts Paraguay and visiting Argentina clashed in Asuncion with Paraguay trying to postpone Argentina's qualification celebrations by another month.  Angel di Maria led an Argentine breakaway ten minutes into the match.  He crossed into the box to Sergio Aguero, but Aguero was chopped down by Paraguay goalkeeper Roberto Fernandez for a penalty kick.  Lionel Messi (pictured, blue) converted for 1-0.  Paraguay were level when a Jose Nunez flick from a sharp angle was mishandled by Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero, allowing the equalizing goal to trickle through.  Argentina re-established their advantage on a play where Messi chested down a long ball to a play where Aguero was sure to get to it before his two defenders.  Aguero spun and socred on a low roller to make it 2-1.  Argentina led 2-1 at intermission.

Fernando Gago laced a long, rolling through ball to put di Maria in on goal with Rodrigo Palacios open for a slotted ball.  Di Maria chose to take the shot himself, and he scored to make it 3-1 to Argentina.  Messi has trying some ball tricks in the Paraguayan penalty area one minute later when Salustiano Candia impeded his progress.  Messi converted from the penalty spot a second time.  Argentina were up 4-1, and the celebration was destined to happen tonight.  Paraguay caught Argentina on the break with little time remaining.  Miguel Samudio tapped a cross laterally along the box, and a charging Roque Santa Cruz was able to cut the ball across Romero's momentum to make it 4-2.  Argentina had a fifth in the final minute of play.  Substitutes Maxi Rodriguez and Ezequiel Lavezzi played a one-two-one with the finish coming after Rodriguez made a full spin before connecting with the ball on his preferred foot.  Argentina win 5-2 and become the first team from South America to qualify for Brasil 2014.

Argentina 29 pts IN
Colombia 26 pts +13
Chile 24 pts +3
Ecuador 22 pts +4
Uruguay 22 pts 0
Venezuela 19 pts -6
Peru OUT
Bolivia OUT
Paraguay OUT

Goals
Argentina
Lionel Messi 12 PK, 52 PK
Sergio Aguero 32
Angel di Maria 50
Maxi Rodriguez 90

Paraguay
Jose Nuñez 18
Roque Santa Cruz 86

Match Reports:
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/11/uk-soccer-world-argentina-finals-idUKBRE98A05Z20130911
http://www.goal.com/en-india/match/97328/paraguay-vs-argentina/report?
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1769419-argentina-vs-paraguay-score-grades-and-post-match-reaction

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fq8advUpkY