Dazzling Paraguay crush Turkey to emerge Gr B toppers
MUMBAI: WITH TURKEY’S DEFENCE HOLDING FIRM AGAINST PARAGUAY’S PASSING GAME, THE SOUTH AMERICANS SHOWED THEIR QUALITY FROM THE DEAD BALL
Paraguay produced another dazzling display of attacking football to rout Turkey 3-1 and finish their Group B proceedings in style at the DY Patil Stadium on Thursday.
Ten goals in three games is proof of the South American team’s quality and Paraguay’s tremendous firepower was again on show at the Navi Mumbai ground.
Giovvanni Bogado (41st min), Fernando Cardozo (43rd) and Antonio Galeano (61st) were on target to ensure they topped the group with an all-win record. They had beaten Mali (3-2) and New Zealand (4-2).
Kerem Kesgin got a late consolation goal for Turkey with a fine solo effort, but it was a forgettable campaign for the Europeans, who finished at the bottom of Group B. Turkey lost 3-0 to Mali and New Zealand held them to a 1-1 draw.
Thursday’s game started in dramatic fashion with Paraguay earning a penalty in the first minute. But Anibal Vega wasted the opportunity with goalkeeper Berke Ozer easily saving the spot kick to his left.
Bouyed by the reprieve, Turkey settled down after the initial hesitancy. To counter the sharp Paraguay attack, Turkey midfielders Sefa Akgun, Kerem Kesginand and Yunus Akgun slowed the pace of the game. Their tactics to keep possession by rolling the ball in the midfield helped keep Paraguay’s Anibal Vega, Fernando Cardozo and Blas Armoa at bay.
PRISING OPEN TURKEY
However, good teams have a number of options to open up the opposition. With Turkey’s defence holding firm against Paraguay’s passing game, the South Americans showed their quality from the dead ball. Handed an opportunity to take a free-kick from the top of the box in the 41st minute, Bogado produced a beautifully curling effort which left the goalkeeper looking silly.
Within minutes, Paraguay were 2-0 up after a deft finish by Fernando Cardozo. Blas Armoa collected a diagonal played from the centre of the park and raced in from the left to set-up Cardozo, who pulled off a delectable back heel past the custodian.
The two finely taken goals late in the first session helped Paraguay take control and they could afford to experiment. Striker Fernando Romero was brought in for Vega in the second half, but their attacks continued to flow. As the game pushed past the hour mark, Antonio Galeano made it 3-0, his shot taking a deflection on the way in.