By Matthew Kenyon BBC Sport, Cairo International Stadium

Paraguay's Aldo Paniagua (right) hit a delightful winner

Ten-man Paraguay snatched a late winner to stun hosts Egypt in stoppage time at the Cairo stadium on Monday.

Paraguay substitute Aldo Paniagua produced a sublime volley in the fourth minute of added time to deny the home side.

Egypt created several decent chances in the early stages, but while Paraguay keeper Joel Silva was kept busy, no-one was able to make the breakthrough.

They paid for their failure to score after 25 minutes when Paraguay burst through the home defence and Federico Santader fired home with a powerful shot from the right.

Egypt should have been level only a few minutes later when Mustafa Afroto fashioned a superb chance which Hussam Arafat scuffed wide.

Afroto, with his shaven head is an instantly recognisable and popular figure among the Egyptian fans.

And it was he who brought the hosts back level with a stunning free-kick on 37 minutes - curled over the wall into the top corner.

Paraguay's Huth had been sent off in the incident which led to the free-kick and from there-on they faced a huge challenge.

Worse was to come for La Albirroja when keeper Silva had to be replaced at half-time because of an injury.

The setbacks appeared to fire them up, however, as Paraguay were the brighter team in the early stages of the second half.

And while Egypt did have chances to take the lead, they squandered them - with Mohamed Talaat wasting a number of opportunities.

As the missed chances continued, Egypt grew frustrated by their inability to capitalise on their superior numbers, with Talaat berating his team-mates when they failed to deliver the perfect ball.

Then as the home team failed to clear a last, desperate Paraguay attack, Paniagua pounced.

It was a dramatic end to then game, and the Paraguay team earned the warm applause they received from the home fans.

In the other Group A game, Italy got its first win, with goals from Michelangelo Albertazzi and Silvano Raggio securing a 2-1 win over Trinidad & Tobago.

Paraguay and Italy, are level at the top of the group on four points each, while Egypt are a point behind in third with one game remaining.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version