A powerful Paraguay side beat Slovakia 2-0 in Bloemfontein yesterday to leave the South Americans on the brink of qualification for the World Cup knockout phase.
A first-half goal from Enrique Vera and a second-half strike from Cristian Riveros at a sun-drenched Free State stadium gave Paraguay the crucial win that takes them to four points in Group F with only minnows New Zealand left to face.
CLEAR FROM THE START
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino made his intentions clear from the kick-off with three attackers in his starting XI, including Manchester City forward Roque Santa Cruz, and his team established a vice-like grip on the match.
Paraguay took the lead on 27 minutes when Vera bent the ball around the goalkeeper with the outside of his right boot after a pass from Barrios.
It followed incessant pressure on the Slovakian defense in a first half in which the eastern Europeans could muster just a single shot to the South Americans’ eight.
The goal forced Slovakia to come out of their shell and attack, but Paraguay came close to doubling their lead when Santa Cruz forced Slovak goalkeeper Jan Mucha to save with his legs.
SECOND HALF
The South Americans kept their grip on the match in the second half as Slovakia struggled to break down the South Americans’ defense.
Coach Vladimir Weiss threw on forward Filip Holosko for Stanislav Sestak as the Slovaks desperately looked for an equalizer, but they could not hold onto possession long enough to pose a goal threat.
Vera almost headed Paraguay into a two-goal lead after a cross from Santa Cruz, but his effort flew narrowly wide.
Substitute Aureliano Torres, on for Nelson Valdez, then drove over as the South Americans’ continued to look the more likely scorers.
In a last throw of the dice, Weiss sent on midfielder Miroslav Stoch for defender Kornel Salata, but Slovakia failed to threaten and as the clock ticked down Riveros gave Paraguay the two-goal margin their play richly deserved.
The World Cup hopes of Slovakia, heartbroken after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to New Zealand in their opener, now hang by a thread as they next face defending champions Italy.
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE: Without its Taiwanese partners which are ‘working around the clock,’ Nvidia could not meet AI demand, CEO Jensen Huang said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and US-based artificial intelligence (AI) chip designer Nvidia Corp have partnered with each other on silicon photonics development, Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) said. Speaking with reporters after he met with TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) in Taipei on Friday, Huang said his company was working with the world’s largest contract chipmaker on silicon photonics, but admitted it was unlikely for the cooperation to yield results any time soon, and both sides would need several years to achieve concrete outcomes. To have a stake in the silicon photonics supply chain, TSMC and
SILICON VALLEY HUB: The office would showcase Taiwan’s strengths in semiconductors and artificial intelligence, and help Taiwanese start-ups connect with global opportunities Taiwan has established an office in Palo Alto, one of the principal cities of Silicon Valley in California, aimed at helping Taiwanese technology start-ups gain global visibility, the National Development Council said yesterday. The “Startup Island Taiwan Silicon Valley hub” at No. 299 California Avenue is focused on “supporting start-ups and innovators by providing professional consulting, co-working spaces, and community platforms,” the council said in a post on its Web site. The office is the second overseas start-up hub established by the council, after a similar site was set up in Tokyo in September last year. Representatives from Taiwanese start-ups, local businesses and
‘DETERRENT’: US national security adviser-designate Mike Waltz said that he wants to speed up deliveries of weapons purchased by Taiwan to deter threats from China US president-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for US secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, affirmed his commitment to peace in the Taiwan Strait during his confirmation hearing in Washington on Tuesday. Hegseth called China “the most comprehensive and serious challenge to US national security” and said that he would aim to limit Beijing’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific region, Voice of America reported. He would also adhere to long-standing policies to prevent miscalculations, Hegseth added. The US Senate Armed Services Committee hearing was the first for a nominee of Trump’s incoming Cabinet, and questions mostly focused on whether he was fit for the
SHARED VALUES: The US, Taiwan and other allies hope to maintain the cross-strait ‘status quo’ to foster regional prosperity and growth, the former US vice president said Former US vice president Mike Pence yesterday vowed to continue to support US-Taiwan relations, and to defend the security and interests of both countries and the free world. At a meeting with President William Lai (賴清德) at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Pence said that the US and Taiwan enjoy strong and continued friendship based on the shared values of freedom, the rule of law and respect for human rights. Such foundations exceed limitations imposed by geography and culture, said Pence, who is visiting Taiwan for the first time. The US and Taiwan have shared interests, and Americans are increasingly concerned about China’s
RSS