Forlan on form as Uruguay overcome Paraguay

Latin American pacesetters Paraguay suffered a jolt on a seemingly inexorable road to the World Cup finals in South Africa next year after they went down 2-0 to Uruguay on Saturday.

Atletico Madrid’s Diego Forlan scored the Uruguayans’ opener, the former Manchester United misfit netting on 28 minutes, before Diego Lugano made the points safe with a second just before the hour mark to cheer a 45,000 crowd at the Centenario stadium.

Gerardo Martino’s visitors were unable to come back off the ropes as the Paraguayans went down to only their second defeat in 11 games.

With 23 points they still lead Brazil, who have 17 from 10 ahead of Sunday’s encounter with Ecuador in Quito.

Argentina, who the Uruguayans joined on 16 points with Saturday’s success, were later hoping to move up to second with a home win over struggling Venezuela and close the gap on top spot to four points.

Chile also have 16 from 10 ahead of Sunday’s trip to bottom side Peru.

Also Sunday, Colombia and Bolivia will face off in Bogota with the hosts hoping for a win to stay in contention.

The top four teams qualify for the finals and the fifth-placed team enters a home-and-away playoff with the fourth-placed team from the North, Central America and Caribbean zone.