Paraguay lucky to get past Venezuela
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jul 21, 2011
[COPA AMERICA] Paraguay could count its lucky stars as it booked its place in Sunday's Copa America final against Uruguay thanks to a 5-3 shootout win over
Venezuela, which was making its first appearance in the final four. Chivas USA's Alejandro Moreno was one of three Venezuelans to hit the woodwork during
regulation.
Goalkeeper Justo Villar's save on Franklin Lucena's shot from the penalty spot decided the
shootout.
Moreno hit the woodwork late in the first half, and Miku and Juan Fernando Arango struck the
frame in second-half stoppage time.
Venezuela's Oswaldo Vizcaronndo had a goal called back for a questionable offside.
Paraguay had
Jonathan Santana sent off in overtime.
The win moved Paraguay into the final for the first time since it won the 1979 title thanks to future New
York Cosmos stars Julio Cesar Romero and Roberto Cabanas.
Unbelievable! Just like Argentina against Uruguay, Brazil against Paraguay, Chile against Venezuela, and even the USA against Japan (in the WWC), Venezuela outplayed and outshot Paraguay-- and ended up losing. Is this a whole new trend in world soccer: defend well until the end, luck will be there for you, and you'll come out a winner? Forget offense, man. Just play defense.
Its not a new trend - been happening for a couple decades, and its a big problem for the sport. I think FIFA need to allow two more subs if a game goes beyond 90 minutes, so coaches can use more subs for tactical reasons in the second half without fear of injury early in extra time shortchanging them. I think this would increase scoring in knockout matches.