Paraguay’s soccerteam coach Gerardo Pelusso, center, instructs his players during training session in Ypane, Paraguay, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Paraguay will face Uruguay in Montevideo on March 22, 2013 in a World Cup qualifying game. AP
MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay— Uruguay and Paraguay drew 1-1 on Friday in a result that helped neither team as they struggle to qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Luis Suarez scored in the 82nd minute to give Uruguay a 1-0 lead, but Paraguay replied four minutes later with an equalizer from Edgar Benitez.
Uruguay, the defending South American champion, has 13 points in 10 matches and Paraguay has only eight from the same number of games. Both are far behind leaders Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador.
The top four clubs in South America qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the fifth-place team faces a playoff for a spot. Brazil as the host nation qualifies automatically.