Penalty salvages point for Peru
ASUNCION, Paraguay (Reuters) -- Peru captain Nolberto Solano scored a second-half penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Paraguay in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.
Peru were let off the hook when goalkeeper Oscar Ibanez saved a Julio Enciso penalty in the 88th minute but squandered a chance to take all the points as striker Jefferson Farfan missed an open goal in injury time.
Paraguay dominated the first-half and hit the woodwork three times before Carlos Paredes fired them in front in the 29th minute.
However, the home side handed the initiative to the visitors and paid the price when Solano equalised in the 74th minute with his fourth goal of the qualifiers.
Paraguay stayed third in the 10-nation South American World Cup qualifying group with 16 points from ten games, although they could drop to fourth if Ecuador beat Venezuela later on Wednesday.
Peru, who played amid widespread speculation that coach Paulo Autuori could be sacked after the game, moved onto ten points and remained near the foot of the 10-nation table.
Paraguay nearly went ahead after only ten seconds when Jose Cardozo beat the offside trap and rounded Ibanez only to lose his balance and shoot over the crossbar.
The hosts then tormented Peru with high balls into the penalty area.
Cardozo headed onto the bar from an Aureliano Torres in the eighth minute and seven minutes later, Enciso's header was tipped onto the bar by Ibanez in an almost identical move from a Paredes cross.
The tactic finally paid off in the 29th minute when Torres produced another inswinging cross from the left.
Paredes rose above his marker and headed against the post but this time was on hand to fire the rebound into the roof of the net.
Despite the return of Solano from suspension, Peru looked downhearted and Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar had to make only one first half save from a Jefferson Farfan shot.
Peru found a new lease of life after halftime and took control of the match, stringing passes together in midfield and winning a majority of the loose balls.
Their improvement paid off when substitute Paolo Guerrero was tripped by Villar in the area and Solano fired the penalty high into the top left corner.
