The win left the Americans needing a tie against France in their final Group C game on Wednesday in Auckland to advance to the quarterfinals.
Japan crushed France, 7-1, with another spectacular display of attacking soccer in Sunday's other Group D game. Japan led, 5-1, after just 38 minutes and scored four in a 13-minute span en route to clinching a berth in the quarterfinals. (Germany is the only other team to be assured of a berth in the final eight.)
The diminutive Rebecca Fernandez put the Paraguayans ahead in the 32nd minute with a shock goal that put the Americans on the verge of elimination.
At halftime, Tambi sent on forwards Vicki DiMartino and Courtney Verloo, and the duo made the difference, each scoring after an own goal by Paraguayan defender Cris Marbel Flores tied the score in the 48th minute.
GAME SUMMARY:
Nov. 2 in Hamilton
USA 3 Paraguay 1. Goals: own goal 48, DiMartino 77, Verloo 83; Fernandez 32.
USA -- Vancil, Dunn, Colohan, Brian, Eddy (Laddish, 78), Harris, Bennett, K.Mewis, Klei, Brock (DiMartino, 46), Johnson (Verloo, 46).
Paraguay -- Orue, Marbel Flores, Cuevas (Toledo, 65), Genes, Zalazar, Fleitas (Rivas, 88), Armoa, Talavera, Fernandez, Ruis Diaz (Parada, 65), Villamayor.
Yellow cards: USA -- Colohan 69; Paraguay -- Genes 55, Villamayor 89.
Referee: Thalia Mitsi (Greece).
Att.: 4,115.
DAY 2 RESULTS
Group A
Nov. 1 in Auckland
Colombia 1 (Vidal 10) Canada 1 (Ezurike 9).
New Zealand 1 (Longo 13) Denmark 2 (Andreasen 29, Olsen 56).
Group B
Nov. 1 in Christchurch
Germany 3 (Marozsan pen. 5, 35, Maier 69) Ghana 2 (Dadson 65, Fordjour 86).
North Korea 2 (Yun Hyon Hi 16, 65) Costa Rica 1 (Rodriguez Cedeno 20).
Group C
Nov. 2 in Hamilton
USA 3 (own goal 48, DiMartino 77, Verloo 83) Paraguay 1 (Fernandez 32).
Japan 7 (Inoue 11, Kishikawa pen. 21, 57, Kira 26, 27, 34, Shimada 38) France 1 (Augis 16).
Group D
Nov. 2 in Wellington
England 1 (Holbrook 79) Nigeria 0.
South Korea 2 (Lee Min Sun 47, Lee Hyun Young 57) Brazil 1 (Raquel 66).
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