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Ecuador and Paraguay both qualify
![]() Haedo, left, celebrates the goal that took Paraguay to the World Cup finals RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil -- Ecuador and Paraguay have qualified for the World Cup, leaving Uruguay, Colombia and Chile scrambling for the right to play off against Australia. Ecuador's 0-0 draw at home to Uruguay in Quito was enough to take them to their second successive finals. Meanwhile, Paraguay qualified for the third time in a row after Nelson Haedo gave them a 1-0 win in Venezuela. Argentina and Brazil had already clinched South America's other two direct places. Uruguay, who have 22 points, stayed fifth in the single, 10-nation group while Colombia and Chile are a point behind after drawing 1-1 in Barranquilla, a result which frustrated both sides. All three teams play their final games on Wednesday against opponents who have already qualified. Uruguay are at home to Argentina, Colombia are away to Paraguay and Chile host Ecuador. Uruguay were given a hostile reception at Quito airport on Friday as local fans insulted the players and coach Jorge Fossati. The bad feeling continued on the field with a feud between Ecuador striker Agustin Delgado and his marker Diego Lugano marring the first half, plus a shoving match which halted play for three minutes in the first half. Despite this, Brazilian referee Marcio Rezende kept his red card in his pocket, also failing to punish numerous ugly tackles. Ecuador had the better of the game but were let down by wayward finishing, with Felix Borja missing two good chances in the first half and Delgado missing another two in the second, including one where he headed wide of an open goal. "Now, we're going to try and improve on the last World Cup," said Ecuador's Colombian coach Luis Fernando Suarez, who replaced compatriot Hernan Dario Gomez a year ago. Ecuador were knocked out in the first round in 2002, when they made their debut at the finals. Paraguay's win in Maracaibo came courtesy of Werder Bremen striker Haedo's 64th minute strike. "This is the result of two years' hard work and the players have been rewarded," said Paraguay's Uruguayan coach Anibal Ruiz, who was jeered by fans following a 4-1 defeat in Brazil but has since won back the public's backing. Paraguay, who have 28 points from 17 games, moved into third place ahead of Ecuador, who have 27. Colombia dominated the first half against Chile in Barranquilla and took a deserved lead when Luis Gabriel Rey met Gerardo Bedoya's header with a spectacular diving header in the 25th minute. However, they handed the initiative to the visitors, who equalised when defender Ricardo Rojas headed home David Pizarro's free kick in the 63rd minute. "We're still alive," said Chile coach Nelson Acosta, who started the campaign as coach of neighbours Bolivia. "We depend on other results but I hope that everything is normal in the last matches and that each team wins or draws on merit." Argentina, who lead with 31 points, are at home to ninth-placed Peru (15 points) on Sunday while Brazil, who are one point behind in second place, face table-propping Bolivia (13) in La Paz at 3,600m above sea level.
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