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Paraguay survives Group D
Spain sent home despite 5-1 waxing of Bulgaria
Posted: Wednesday September 16, 1998 06:29 PM
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Miguel Benitez of Paraguay (right) challenges Uche Okafor of Nigeria during the first round match between Nigeria and Paraguay in Group D Ben Radford/Allsport |
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- The group of death lived up to its name Thursday when
Spain got left
behind, failing to advance to the second round of the World Cup. Instead,
Paraguay
moved into the Round of 16 along with Nigeria when it
beat a weakened Nigerian team 3-1.
Paraguay's win gave it five points, one more than Spain, which got its
first win of the tournament with a 5-1 rout of Bulgaria. But
the margin of victory means nothing to Spain, as it now must go home before
the second round.
Paraguay's Miguel Benitez put his country ahead 2-1 in the 59th minute with
a perfectly placed 23-yard rocket from straight on that was barely tipped
by Nigeria's Peter Rufai and ricocheted in off the botttom of the crossbar.
Midfielder Jose Cardoza added an insurance goal in the 89th minute, putting
Paraguay up 3-1.
The Nigerians, who were already assured the top spot in Group D, made seven
changes in their starting lineup in order to rest some players and sit out
others who had already received one yellow card in the first two games.
A 3-2 loss to Nigeria in Spain's first match proved to be the difference,
as Spain took no points out of the game, which was lost after Nigeria
scored two goals late in the second half. One of those scores, a near post
goal that Spain's goalkeeper Andoni Zubizarreta knocked in his own net,
will surely be remembered
Spain, which had come into the tournament as one of the favorites,
continued its past history of underachievement at the World Cup. The
talented Spaniards have still never finished higher than fourth in any
World Cup.
Paraguay will face France Sunday in
the second round, while Nigeria will take on Denmark.
Meanwhile, the Spaniards became the first seeded team to fail to advance
from the first round. After an undefeated run through World Cup qualifying,
major changes will no doubt be discussed after this disappointing
finish.
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