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Paraguay national football team
Copa America | Group Stage
Jun 16, 2015 at 10pm UK
 
Jamaica national football team

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Benitez (36')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Live Commentary: Paraguay 1-0 Jamaica - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the Copa America clash between Paraguay and Jamaica.
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Paraguay picked up their first victory of this year's Copa America with a 1-0 win over Jamaica in Group B.

The only goal of the game arrived nine minutes before the half-time interval when Jamaica goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr headed a clearance against Edgar Benitez, whose block sent the ball over the line.

Paraguay dominated for much of the match, with Miguel Samudio coming close to scoring his side's second with an effort which struck the crossbar, but one goal was enough to end Jamaica's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.

Read below to find out how the action unfolded.


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Good evening everyone! Yesterday's action was thrilling at the Copa America, but there should be a lot more drama to come tonight. Group B's second round of fixtures begins with Paraguay vs. Jamaica as they look to keep tabs on Argentina and Uruguay, who play later this evening. Stick with me for the action over the next couple of hours.

It was a quite incredible start to the tournament for Paraguay as the fought back from two goals down to hold World Cup finalists Argentina to a 2-2 draw thanks to a Lucas Barrios strike in stoppage time. Paraguay have not been tipped by many to reach the quarter-finals, but can they improve again after an impressive result at the weekend?

Jamaica are surely the biggest underdogs at the tournament, but some of the results so far have suggested that there are more surprises on the way. Despite losing 1-0 to Uruguay in their opening fixture, Winfried Schafer must have been proud of the fight shown by his side. They need more than a good attitude tonight. Another loss will be enough to end their slim hopes of reaching the next round.

Argentina and Uruguay meet later tonight, but Paraguay will be fully aware that they have the ability to pile the pressure on any side that loses that game by beating Jamaica this evening. A victory would put them on four points. A Jamaica win would make this group very interesting.

Schafer doesn't care if his side are huge underdogs. He is certain Jamaica can find the win they need to keep their qualification bid alive this evening.

"We want to go to the quarter-finals, that's why we came to Chile to play in the Copa America. Now we have to watch how the players recover," he told reporters. "The next game against Paraguay is going to be very difficult. We know we can play good football and we hope against Paraguay we can play the same and have a little bit of luck."


STAT: Paraguay have failed to score in their last two games against Jamaica, but in the previous three they netted three or more in each game.

PARAGUAY: Silva; Bruno Valdez, Da Silva, P. Aguilar, Samudio; Gonzalez, V. Caceres, Ortigoza, Benitez; Santa Cruz, Bobadilla

JAMAICA: Kerr; Mariappa, Hector, Morgan, Lawrence; Austin, McAnuff; McCleary, Watson, Dawkins; Barnes


Despite coming off the bench to score the crucial equaliser against Argentina, Barrios is once again named as a substitute by Paraguay boss Ramon Diaz as Roque Santa Cruz and Raul Bobadilla start in attack. Diaz makes three changes as Bruno Valdez, Derlis Gonzalez and Edgar Benitez coming into the squad to replace Marcos Caceres, Richard Ortiz and Nelson Valdez.

Jamaica make just one change as Je-Vaughn Watson replaces Darren Mattocks. There's plenty of players familiar with the English leagues, with Wes Morgan, Jobi McAnuff, Garath McCleary and Giles Barnes all starting.

STAT: Jamaica are the sixth invitee in the Copa America (after Mexico, USA, Costa Rica, Japan and Honduras) and, like all of them before, they marked their debut in the competition with a defeat. It's not always been easy for the CONCACAF sides.

Here we go then. The players are out on the pitch in Antofagasta and Paraguay will get the game underway.

Kickoff was delayed for a few moments while Adrian Mariappa apparently headed off the field to change his socks. Yes, seriously. Paraguay immediately lose the ball when they attempt a hopeful long ball forward from the start.

Jamaica have tested the Paraguayan defence with a couple of early crosses into the box, but Silva collects the latter to launch a break with a throw to the wing. A promising move finishes with Gonzalez miscuing a volley wide at the back post.

Gonzalez is involved again as he creates space on the right wing before delivering a cross to Santa Cruz, whose weal header send the ball straight into the hands of Kerr.

Jamaica would be wise to get the ball to McCleary. His direct style on the wing has already caused problems for Paraguay and he wins a free kick on the right. A couple of set pieces are wasted, but it's been a pretty decent start for Jamaica.

YELLOW CARD! Rodolph Austin is slightly too eager to win the ball back in midfield and his late challenge on Samudio is punished with a booking. It's pretty harsh, to be honest.

Neither side have been able to take control in the early stages, but Paraguay are starting to find their passing rhythm further up the pitch. Jamaica are built to hit them on the break. McCleary continues to impress.

McCleary wins his side another free kick with a clever piece of footwork after passing the halfway line. Austin delivers the ball into the box, but Silva is off his line to confidently punch clear.

Paraguay are improving in midfield as Caceres and Ortigoza begin to see more of the ball, but Jamaica are being very discipline defensively and there isn't much room to work further up the pitch.

YELLOW CARD! Bobadilla is too quick for the pass when he drops in midfield, and Morgan foolishly jumps in with a challenge from behind to pick up a booking. Poor from the Leicester City defender.

Well, Jamaican goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr certainly isn't lacking in confidence. He sprints off the line to collect the ball before Santa Cruz can flick a hopeful pass on and lands just inside the box. Very brave.

CHANCE! The first opportunity of the match falls to Santa Cruz after Jamaica twice miss the chance to clear a corner. Benitez does well to shift the ball to his captain, whose low effort from the right side of the box is easily held by Kerr.

CLOSE! Paraguay are asking a few more questions now. Gonzalez causes problems with his trickery on the right before a tackle sends the ball to Bobadilla, whose volley drifts just past the post. It would have been a superb goal.

Jamaica have dropped a lot deeper in the last few minutes, but they know Paraguay can be hurt by pace on the break. We've seen very little of Dawkins and Barnes in the first half. The first goal could be vital tonight.

Santa Cruz is starting to cause some problems with his strength and clever flicks, but Morgan does brilliantly to twice get a foot in when the ball looked set to reach Bobadilla in the box.

Better from Jamaica as Mariappa and McCleary link up on the right to create space for the latter, whose inviting cross is just too strong for Dawkins in the box.

Caceres produces a superb cross-field pass to find Benitez, but his low cross into the box is stopped by the hand of Kerr and Hector reacts well to clear the danger.

Jamaica clear another corner as the Paraguay pressure keeps on coming. The set-pieces really haven't been good enough from either side tonight, which is a disappointment with the amount of threat both teams carry in the air.

SAVE! Gonzalez collects the ball in space on the right and does well to find Santa Cruz on the edge of the box, but his volley is too close to Kerr, who collects after getting two hands to the shot.

Jamaica enjoy a rare spell of possession further up the pitch as Paraguay drop off for a few moments. It's wasted, though, when Lawrence hits a tame effort straight at Silva from 30 yards.

GOAL! PARAGUAY 1-0 JAMAICA (BENITEZ)

Oh my word. This is certainly the strangest goal you will see at this tournament. A long ball forward doesn't seem to be too threatening, but the confident Kerr is out of his box and heads the clearance straight against Benitez, who is soon celebrating after seeing his block send the ball over the line from outside the box. Incredible.

Jamaica may have been on the back foot, but they haven't offered too many opportunities. An awful mistake from Kerr has put them in a difficult position now. They must come out and put more pressure on Paraguay.

CLOSE! Jamaica are all over the place at the back now. They lose the ball in midfield and invite a counter from Paraguay, who come close to a second when Ortigoza's effort from the edge of the box drifts just past the post.

Jamaica are pushing back, but they don't appear to have too many ideas going forward. McCleary has to be the key man and I wouldn't be surprised if Schafer wanted the Reading star to cut inside a bit more. Barnes needs to get involved, too.

Jamaica nearly find an equaliser when a free kick into the box causes problems, but Da Silva reacts quickest to clear under pressure from Dawkins.

HALF TIME: PARAGUAY 1-0 JAMAICA

I mentioned Kerr looked confident early in the game, but his moment of madness could cost Jamaica tonight. There was simply no need to come out of the box to head clear a long ball from Caceres, and Benitez was the lucky one as the clearance struck him to send the ball over the line. Can Jamaica respond? They've struggled to create chances so far.

You'd certainly have to say that Paraguay have been the better side. After a slow start they've managed to dominate in the centre of midfield, and both Benitez and Gonzalez have threatened when they get on the ball. Santa Cruz is holding the ball up well, while Bobadilla can always create his own chances.

Let's take a quick look at the benches. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Barrios later in the game if either Santa Cruz or Bobadilla are removed. Darren Mattocks started the first match for Jamaica, so he could be sent on soon. Barnes has really struggled to get involved on a regular basis.

PARAGUAY SUBS: Villar, Piris, Barrios, Ortiz, Molinas, Martinez, Balbuena, Oscar Romero, Arana, A. Aguilar, M. Caceres, N. Valdez

JAMAICA SUBS: Gordon, Laing, Brown, Parkes, Gray, Mattocks, Miller, Williams, Ottey, Grant, Taylor, Thompson


A quick reminder for all you South American football fans. We will also have live text coverage of Argentina vs. Uruguay from 12am as the drama continues to unfold in Group B. Paraguay are closing in on top spot before that game gets underway.

The players are back out for the second half. No changes from either manager at the break. Jamaica will get the game back underway.

I'm not sure what was said in the Jamaican dressing room at the break, but I'm sure Schafer didn't want to see his side immediately lose their shape at the back. Only a poor pass from Ortigoza prevents a chance with Santa Cruz and Bobadilla both in space.

Paraguay have a goal disallowed now! A free kick finds Santa Cruz, who heads the ball back across the box but Cacaeres is offside before volleying home from close range.

It's been a very good start to the second half for Paraguay and they threaten again when the ball is shifted across the box to allow Santa Cruz to fire wide of the target.

Excellent work from Caceres as he avoids a couple of challenges in midfield before unleashing a 25-yard strike which Kerr pushes past the post. That should give the goalkeeper a confidence boost.

Dawkins has been left isolated for much of the night and, possibly out of frustration, he targets the top corner with a rare effort from the edge of the box. Silva is happy to watch the ball hit the side-netting.

SUBSTITUTION: Jamaica make the first change of the night as Lance Laing comes on to replace Watson.

Paraguay have looked pretty comfortable in the second half, but they'll be keen to score a second to kill off Jamaica, who enjoy a spell on top before a dangerous cross is cleared by Da Silva. Bruno Valdez becomes the first Paraguayan to pick up a yellow card for a late tackle on McCleary as Jamaica looked to break.

OFF THE BAR! Paraguay come agonisingly close to a second goal as Samudio exchanges passes with Bobadilla before rattling the crossbar with an effort which left Kerr helpless.

SUBSTITUTION: It's just not worked tonight for Barnes, who can have such a big impact in the final third of the pitch. He's replaced by Deshorn Brown.

Excellent work from Lawrence, who has looked vulnerable at times tonight. The break looked to be on when a Jamaican corner was cleared to Gonzalez, but Lawrence steps in on the halfway line with a vital challenge.

There's a break in play to allow Lawrence to receive treatment after colliding in the air with Diaz, who comes off the better of the two players and wins a free kick.

Ouch. Caceres is the latest player to need treatment after being caught by the studs of Dawkins. Surprisingly, there's no booking for the Jamaican player. However, it appears a Jamaican coach has been sent away from the touchline for one protest too many.

It's not been the best second half, but Paraguay have still managed to create more than Jamaica. One goal could change the look of the group, though.

Good goalkeeping from Silva as he comes off the line to collect in the box after a cross from McAnuff was deflected.

Paraguay appeal for a penalty when Santa Cruz heads the ball against Hector's hand, but the defender didn't no much about it. The referee probably feels he was too close but Hector did have a hand in the air.

SUBSTITUTION: Nelson Valdez is off the bench to replace Bobadilla, who has worked very hard without reward tonight.

SUBSTITUTIONS: The changes keep on coming. Samudio has picked up a knock and is replaced by Ivan Piris, while Jamaica use their final change to bring Mattocks on for Dawkins.

CHANCE! This game isn't over just yet and Paraguay must be careful. McCleary hasn't seen as much of the ball in the second half, but he comes close to equalising with a powerful strike from the edge of the box which drifts inches wide of the post.

Valdez is clearly keen to make an impact after coming on a few moments, but he takes the wrong option to shoot wide from the edge of the box with Benitez in space on the left.

Jamaica are running out of time and they are still struggling to retain possession in midfield. Paraguay are dropping slightly deeper to protect the lead late on. Will there be a twist?

SUBSTITUTION: Benitez comes off the pitch with his goal still the difference between the two sides. Osmar Molinas is his replacement.

Jamaica are applying more pressure now and win a corner on the left. McCleary takes the set piece short, but Lawrence is unable to clear the first man with a cross. It's not been good enough from Jamaica in the final third.

Morgan is sent forward as Jamaica desperately look for a late equaliser, but he is unable to connect with a firm header as the ball drifts a yard wide of the post.

The fourth official confirms that there will be four minutes of added time.

Great work from Santa Cruz and Valdez in attack as they force Jamaica all the way back to Kerr. Time is running out for Schafer's side.

FULL TIME: PARAGUAY 1-0 JAMAICA

It's all over. An error from Duwayne Kerr which gifted a goal to Edgar Benitez is enough to give Paraguay all three points, and they move to the top of Group B with Argentina set to meet Uruguay in around 30 minutes. Jamaica's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals have been dashed by this defeat.

That's all from me tonight. Make sure you follow the updates of Argentina vs. Uruguay. Goodnight.

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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina33009
Q Canada Canada31114
3 Chile Chile30212
4 Peru flag Peru30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Venezuela Venezuela33009
Q Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Jamaica Jamaica30030

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Uruguay flag Uruguay33009
Q Panama flag Panama32016
3 United States USA31023
4 Bolivia flag Bolivia30030

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Colombia Colombia32107
Q Brazil Brazil31205
3 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31114
4 Paraguay flag Paraguay30030


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